HOW TO HOOK IN

VISION & SAILING LINE

Apart from a brief glimpse hooking in, look forward and sail slightly upwind to help bring the harness line outboard and towards you.

STANCE Form a good 7 shaped stance before and after hooking in.

Sink low to pull the whole rig to windward.

Then use a short sharp pull on the boom to swing the line towards the body.

Simultaneously lift the hips to hook into the line.

Once ‘hooked in’, push back and down in the harness to keep the weight in the line.

Look forward and re-establish that 7 shaped stance, leaning outboard to maintain harness line tension.

Your weight distribution should be 90% harness and 5% on each arm.

TOP TIP: To unhook, pull the boom towards you and slightly lift the hips.

ON WATER TUNING GUIDE

Move the harness lines back if you feel the backhand pulling a lot.

Move the harness lines forward if you feel the front hand pulling a lot.

HARNESSING PROBLEMS

• Avoid standing up to hook in other wise you get pulled over by the rig.
• Do you suddenly head into wind? This is due to sheeting out too much or over weighting the back foot.
• Keep falling out of the harness line? You’re pulling on your arms too much.
• To control excess speed, avoid catapults or being pulled over by the rig, adopt a wide foot spread and put more weight down in the harness.
• Should you get caught under the sail whilst hooked in, don’t panic, push the line away from the hook and swim away from the rig.

Settled in the harness? The next quest is the comfort and added control of the footstraps!

Check out the rest of the Basics section for more technique, help and advice for those just starting out in windsurfing.

Photos: Karen Bornhoft Windwise

Simon Bornhoft Windwise

www.windwise.net