Riding the Storm: 5 Proven Strategies for Windsurfing in Overpowered Conditions

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[elmanuel]

Great topic, I had the exact same issue last week facing gusty 20+ knots with 7.8 on a lake where you rather bring too big than too small gear

[margovesselov]

If wind gets stronger first i do is pull outhaul, then i do make my harness lines longer, then i will lower my boom. And if sail has two clew holes i do use lower hole, using lower hole may make sail feel like a half size smaller.

[lukeheatley]

Had exactly ton Sunday. Fortunately I'd left a bit a room on the mast extension, so could add an extra 2cm of downhaul (takes a second with a Duotone Power XT).

You are actually adding more outhaul by lowering the boom (thanks to Mr Pythagorus). I extended my boom by a notch instead.

[windwavewinter]

Glad to be part of the community ;) good advice, very succinct!

[Windsurfingaddict]

If fully committed, sail upwind in the gusts then back to cross wind as it drops, love my Power Xt as I alway leave room so can add two or three clicks on the water, and slight pull on outhaul, so many times I have managed to carry on sailing with 7m and everyone else has gone and downsized sail and when they have finally got back on the water the wind drops off , I have always used long 34 adjustable lines and seat harness to be able to sit on the power using my body weight for flat water, even if very choppy, and choice bottom eyelet on outhaul, and always check several weather wind apps to give you a better idea of where your sailing to give you a better chance to predict wind, oh and if going to be windy choice a slightly smaller fin as will go just as quick or quicker as still comfortable and in control, great subject 🥳🥳

[scaler]

my opinion on tuning the outhaul

for me a big factor is the clew setting. always use the lower hole, only in underpowered i would consider using the upper clew.

AND: i noticed a huge tip the last session i had (hardly overpowerd in 20kts with 72cm slalom board, 7qm race sail, 35cm fin) after putting the mastfoot ALL the way to the front and the boom to the lowest possible I had a lot of load to handle. because there was nothing left I pulled hard on the clew to get less profile in the sail. and holy shit it was FIRE🔥 was one of the best sessions ive ever had

lg❤

[AlwaysAfloat-ijzo]

Thanks Nils. Really useful. Not sure I could move mast foot (UJ) forwards out on the water though, unless I was on the race board.

[marcelmuldertje]

Great tuning tips! Can you also provide some tips to avoid what we call in The Netherlands "zwevend voetje" when you feel that you have no pressure on your front foot and raise your toes all the time to not fly out of the front foot straps. Thanks mate!

[davewindsor]

#6 And drop the boom to the lower clew position.

[Apoz]

Question: Is sailing "Overpowered" required to win slalom races?
When does sailing overpowered start costing speed, and how do you recognise that point?

[simongodfrey]

Really good tips Nils, thank you so much. I'm used to quite short harness lines ~ 26cm (?) and I've found if I lengthen even to 30cm I tend to get bum slap on the steep chop. Any advice?

[marcelmuldertje]

Question...What fin size did you use during the Dam X in combination with FF122 DH? Great video again!

[nehoni]

There's going to be 33-44 knots this weekend and I'm not sure about it haha

[Funkphenomena]

What happened at 0:17 after the tactical cut? Looks like that nose never stopped its ascent towards the sky...

[Kostis_playsDrums]

Leaning out too much on a freestyle board would probably cause a lot of spin outs. How would you cope with that? 🙄

[FPV]

Would be Mal besser auf deutsch! Man, was ist los, alle, sogar surferyz, reden auf einmal Englisch, ich verstehe so viel wie 10% 😢

[windsurf]

I no longer battle, just go and change the kit, even if the car is far and it will take me 30m to get set up - it's worth it every time.