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Clew 1st Water Start

This water start technique is not merely a demonstration of creativity but rather an execution of functionality because occasionally you will fall in the water with the clew facing the direction you are heading. Rather than flipping the sail while in the water, flip the sail out of the water, after you have water started.

Step 1 instruction for Clew 1st Water Start

Step 2 instruction for Clew 1st Water Start

Step 3 instruction for Clew 1st Water Start

Step 4 instruction for Clew 1st Water Start

Step 5 instruction for Clew 1st Water Start

Step 6 instruction for Clew 1st Water Start

Step 7 instruction for Clew 1st Water Start

Step 8 instruction for Clew 1st Water Start

Step 9 instruction for Clew 1st Water Start

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Rider: Royn Bartholdi

Steps

1) Point the board in a broad reach and clear the sail from the water.

2) Extend your clew hand so the clew is out and away from tail of the board. Place the heel of your foot on the centerline of the board, between the footstraps.

3) While extending both arms, stretch your body out toward your clew arm. The emphasis is on the clew arm. At the same time pull the tail of the board toward your buttocks in preparation to mount the board. These are apposing actions: extending with arms and pulling with your back foot.

4) As the sail pulls you forward then keep extending the clew arm, put the front foot on the board, and mount the board.

5) You will be pulled out of the water in a beam-reach.

6) When you are out of the water and relatively stable then flip the sail by letting go of the back hand and pulling the mast-side hand toward your chest. This forces the sail to flip more vertically around the axis of the mast.

7) Grab the mast below the boom and let go of the other hand for a smooth and controlled sail flip.

8) Now grab the other side of the boom and remember to keep slight tension (pulling) on the mast so it stays vertical and close to your body.

9) Position both hands to the boom and adjust your feet as crescendo to a wonderful waterstart

Videos

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Sometimes we fall into the water such that we are clew first in the water. You can water start from this position by pointing the nose of the board off the wind so you are mounting the board more from the rear. You will also need to really extend the forward arm (I mean really extend) so the center of effort pulls you out of the water. This is because the center of effort is more toward the rear than normal in that the sail is facing the wrong direction.