Start without raise the sailThis saves energy, looks cool and is not that difficult to learn. Ideally, you should learn the beach start in three to four wind forces in knee-deep to maximum waist-deep water. It is important that you use a light sail and a board that is stable against tipping - the best choice is a Longboard with centreboard or a large freeride board.
Preparation for the beach start
The beach start works best in eight to twelve knots of wind. It is important to choose a shallow water depth at the beginning - the deeper the water, the more wind and skill are required. To begin with, set your board half-windwards (across the wind) and grip the mast with your front hand directly above the boom. The sail should now be over your head without the end of the boom getting caught in the water. Therefore, pull the mast forwards over your head with your front hand, the boom end comes up and the board stays on course.
surf tip: If the board is already turning into the wind unintentionally at this stage, the reason is as follows: you are only pushing the sail upwards, the boom end is stuck in the water. Instead, try to pull the sail forwards and upwind so that the boom end is completely free.
Set course
Keep the board on a half-wind course (across the wind direction). As soon as you have stabilised your course and feel a slight pull in the sail, put your back foot on the board - ideally not too far back, but a little more than a step's width away from the foot of the mast. You can now grab the boom with both hands. Before you get on, you should check again that you have set the board's course correctly. Why? Ascending on an upwind course with the tip of the board pointing slightly into the wind is much more difficult than on a half-wind course (across the wind) or even on a light downwind course (slightly diagonally away from the wind). You can correct the course in the same way as with normal steering (luffing and dropping).
Ascent
Now you are ready for the ascent. Because you want to get your body over the board straight away, you should pull the tail close to you by bending your back leg. Wait for a small gust and keep your arms slightly bent. You are not rising, but being pulled upwards by the sail. As soon as you feel you have enough pull in the sail, straighten the sail by stretching your front arm - your sail will develop additional pull by stretching your arm. To prevent your board from immediately turning back into the wind, you need to load it evenly - so place your front foot on the board directly behind the foot of the mast and pick up speed first.
surf tip: If you load the board too far back when climbing up, it will inevitably turn into the wind. Instead, try to place the front foot directly behind the mast foot when climbing, this will keep the board flat in the water and you will stay on course.
Reverse sail
For a beach start, the mast must initially be parallel to the stern. But what if the boom end is pointing towards the stern after a fall? No problem - you can turn your sail into the right position in just a few simple steps. Take hold of the end of the boom and pull it directly to windward, i.e. to where the wind is coming from. Now lift the end of the boom slightly so that the wind can reach under the sail. In this way, the wind will help you turn the sail round. As soon as the sail is turned round, it is in the desired position for the beach start.
Change ascent direction
It can also happen that the board is pointing in the "wrong" direction. In our image sequence, the board is ready for a beach start with the right hand in front. But what if you want to start in the other direction? Here too, you can turn the board round in just a few simple steps. To do this, grab the mast and pull the sail over your head to windward. Now make a semi-circle to windward around the tip of the board. As soon as the sail starts to flow from the boom end, it will automatically turn round and the board is now ready to go in the other direction.
Crucial point at the beach start: setting the course
If you tilt the boom end towards the water (luffing), the board will turn into the wind (windward) (right-hand picture). Conversely, if you bring the end of the boom upwards (downwind), the board will turn out of the wind to leeward (left-hand picture).
surf tip: Support the drop by stretching the front arm and apply pressure to the foot of the mast from above via the boom - this turns the tip of the board out of the wind to leeward.
Manuel Vogel
Editor surf
