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Light Wind Water Start

Ok! Your in the water and in between a wave set in Muai with a breaking wave coming your way, or in the river at the Gorge with a barge plowing your way, and your thinking 'If only I could get on board I could pump over the wave or slog out of the barge lane'. This no wind (or little wind) water start technique has been my saving buddy many times. Take the time to learn it, at the very least to show off to your beer drinking friends watching you play on the water while they complain there is not enough wind to sail.

Step 1 instruction for Light Wind Water Start

Step 2 instruction for Light Wind Water Start

Step 3 instruction for Light Wind Water Start

Step 4 instruction for Light Wind Water Start

Step 5 instruction for Light Wind Water Start

Step 6 instruction for Light Wind Water Start

Step 7 instruction for Light Wind Water Start

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Rider: Royn Bartholdi

Steps

1) Grab the mast below the boom and straighten it to get as much of the sail exposed to the wind, albeit just a few knots, as possible.

2) Now push the sail vertical and grab the sail foot as the sail goes vertical. Plant the feet around the mast base and bend at the waiste.

3) Grab lower on the mast as the sail starts to lean the other way.

4) As the sail leans away from you pull down into into the board and use your legs to stand up. You are using the sail as a counter balance to pull your weight down into the board instead of against the (would be) wind.

5) Grab higher on the mast and stand higher over the centerline of the board.

6) Now grab the boom with the back hand and lean the the mast forward into the wind.

7) Grab the boom with the other hand.