Step 1 - Balancing on and turning the board

This session should take 15-30 minutes.

1. Carry the board and then the rig down to the dock. Look in the yellow winsurfing book for suggestions on how to do this most easily.
2. Mount the rig on the board, making sure the loop at the end of the uphaul is around the mast before stepping it on the universal.
3. Place the board in the water and paddle away from the dock area to avoid collisions. Make sure the centerboard is down.
4. Practice walking around on the board with the rig in the water.
   • Stand on the board with one foot on either side of the universal.
   • Walk around the universal, being careful not to trip on the mast, walk towards the front of the board and towards the back, step towards the side. If you do this correctly you will repeatedly fall into the water as you get too far from the center of the board. Falling in the water is important - this is how you learn how far you can move away from center, and how the board feels when you do it.
5. Uphaul the sail
   • If the sail is upwind of the board (the mast pointing towards where the wind is coming from) you will have to get it downwind in order to uphaul successfully. There are a few ways to do this:
     • Jump in the water and swim the board around the sail, or swim the sail around the board until the mast is downwind of the board.
     or
     • Uphaul the sail part way and let the wind push the sail downwind.
       1. Stand on the board with the mast sticking out directly in front of you and with one foot on either side of the universal.
       2. Bend down, grab the uphaul and stand up again.
       3. Slowly pull up the mast until the tip rises out of the water. It will be easiest and will put the least strain on your body if you bend your knees and use your knees to pull.
       4. When the mast tip is clear of the water the wind will start to blow the sail around. As the sail swings around, walk around the mast step to keep the sail directly in front of you, with one foot on each side of the universal. If you don't do this you will fall into the water.
       5. You can either lift the mast and boom over the board or let the boom swing the board around. It is not important at this point which way the board is facing.
       6. Once the sail is downwind of the board you can lower it back into the water.

     If you do this the first time without falling into the water at some point, you are amazingly lucky.

   • When the sail is downwind of the board, stand on the board with the mast sticking out directly in front of you and with one foot on either side of the universal.
   • Bend down, grab the uphaul and stand up again.
   • Slowly pull up the mast until the tip rises out of the water. It will be easiest and will put the least strain on your body if you bend your knees and use your knees to pull.
   • Keep pulling the sail up until the clew end is just about to come out of the water. As you pull, make sure the sail is directly in front of you and you have one foot on each side of the universal. If you don't you will fall.

     When the clew comes out of the water the resistance to your pulling will drop dramatically. If you keep pulling as before you will fall backwards into the water, so be prepared to reduce your force as the clew leaves the water.

   • Pull the uphaul until the mast is almost vertical and you are holding the uphaul right at the knot at the boom.
6. Practice turning the board. This maneuver will allow you to position the board to start sailing, and to turn around and return to the dock until you have mastered tacking and jibing.
   • To turn the board, tilt the mast towards the end of the board which you want to move away from the wind. As the board turns, you have to walk around the universal, keeping the mast directly in front of you and one foot on each side of the universal, or you will fall.
   • Practice turning the board in both directions until you are comfortable with the maneuver. You will fall in a few times, but it will quickly become easier as you get the feel for it.
7. Once you're comfortable with this maneuver, you can paddle the board back to the dock, or proceed to step 2.