A good massage after a session could help.

Obelix said...

A good massage after a session could help.

I'll try that one with the wife... I usually only get evils!

sboardcrazy said...

I do some stretches from a chiro that i have for my crook neck.Bit hard to explain them but if I do them every couple of hours after a session it stops me from getting stuck in bed the next day with a headache.They are really good for stretching the muscles between the shoulder blades & down either side of the spine.I can lie down to do them with a headache & get up headache free & so much less stiff! I may be able to get a copy of them if you want to PM me.I'm sure they would help anyone after a sail..
Sailing gloves help the hands and are are good in winter too..I wear fingerless ones.. about $39..?

Hi That would be great. I will PM you with my email details.

I have gloves although I prefer to sail ithout them. They seem to tire my grip on the boom quicker. Anyway the parts of my hand that get injurred the most are as tough as leather now after continuous blistering and healing. I have lost some of the sensitivity in my grip though as a consequence. Luckily I dont fix watches for a living;)

Jez when your next at Invy will have a look at your stance,but i think Elmo is right in that your no commiting enough weight to your harness, your hands should be relaxed and not in a "death grip" Try lifting your boom as well. A bit of bike ridding will help to toughen up your legs and swimming for the rest.

I too hurt a lot between sessions, basically I walk like a penguin for coppola-days.
But I like it, it's good hurt (mostly, except for parts that are permanently damaged).

Your proficiency level is good, may I suggest you're at the stage where you want to start sailing whilst pushing the rig? Mostly coming out of a tack, else the freestyle way, whilst planing, you switch over to the leeside.

It's a personal thing, but in this position, I find this balances the work between pulling and pushing, biceps and triceps, abs versus dorsals, etc. Sessions where I do a lot of those are better for my overall ache than those I don't.

Anyways, congrats on the quick progression!

I agree with elmo and kato, your hands should be fairly relaxed.
Tuning the rig, plays a big part.
Enough downhaul is a big factor, not enough and the sail will be heavy, and put more load on your hands, arms and shoulders.
Harness lines should be placed so there's an even load on front and back hands.

Sailing in gusty conditions will always be harder than steady, and too under or overpowered will also wear you out.

Hi Jez, sounds like you have been skimping on those cans of HTFU I prescribed!

But seriously, that is a really good progression in 4 months. It is good to hear that you are sailing so well!

Your fitness now will partly depend on how fit you were when you got into windsurfing - were you used to hard exercise? Four months is not that long to really shape up if you are just windsurfing a couple of times per week.

And what else do you do to keep fit between sessions? For example I ride my bike to work - which is about 50 mins each way (with hills) and do yoga, interspersed with some pushups and chinups for the arms.

I agree that stretching is very important - before and after. I agree with the comments about death grip - having done that myself - try to commit more to the harness and grip the boom lightly. I also agree with the sail tuning comments from decrep - not enough downhaul can play havoc with sail handling and make an otherwise good rig feel heavy and make you feel like you were fighting it the whole time.

As a dietitian and vegan I would caution about too much protein though. Most standard aussie diets have way too much protein (a major cause of osteoporosis). I think that you can be very fit and have good stamina through regular training and not need to take supplements or gorge on meat and dairy. I'm no Arnie Swarzenegger, as you know, but have sailed 230km in a day - just through being reasonably fit and having a good diet.

Massage also should help, I can recommend a great masseur who comes to your home for $60/hr (just pm me).

But also, the early learning stage is physically really demanding - you are working really hard, falling in all the time, water starting, every thing is harder than when you get more comfortable and have more finesse.

But the main thing is to keep having fun!

what we need is a windsurfing physio?

Ideally one that isn't too clumsy himself.. no broken feet, knees through decks of new boards..

any ideas?

x sport guy said...


Sounds a bit like DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness)

...or (since we are getting into technical medical terminology) it sounds a bit like BOAW
(bit of a wimp)

Just joking.

I too suffer aches and pains. Basically age starting to catch up after all the years of physically wearing sports. (back, knee, elbows).
But I still believe in "use it or lose it". ...I dread the thought of not being able to sail.

I reckon Decrepit summed it up.

But also make sure you have got a skinny boom. (28mm or 29mm diam) It makes a heap of difference to your forearms and stops the need to "over grip" and hence reduces the build up of lactic acid in the forearms (compared to the older 32mm).

For joint aches and pains you could try Glucosamine with Chondroitin which is added to water as a drink. Many people swear that it works wonders.

Good luck.

x sport guy said...

Windxtasy said...

I find a presail and post sail electrolyte replacement drink helps, plus two nurofen straight after sailing. Pre sailing may be even better.
Has improved my recovery time and reduced pain enormously.

Sounds a bit like DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness)
Electrolytes are good, as is plenty of water to stay hydrated and flush the musles out a bit.

Along with good diet with plenty of protein or protein suppliments, and if your really keen and dont mind a few extra bucks, some muscle recovery aminos from your local health food store MAY help, but i wouldnt really bother myself.

But i would say the best ideas (and they are both free) is lots of water, and plenty of streaching both right before and after sailing, and later in the evening as well.

And of course a massage from the missus if you can get it, but it sounds like you get no sympathy like me..... "self inficted.... bugger off"

And of course a massage from the missus if you can get it, but it sounds like you get no sympathy like me..... "self inficted.... bugger off"

My bloke is a massage therapist.. first few years of crook neck I got regular massages + first 6 months of getting back into sailboarding..Now after sailboarding its the " self inflicted ' story..unless Im so bad I get stuck in bed for a few days with a headache & then he''l grudgingly take pity on me..

K Dog said...



....................That all said, all that is left is the doing - Jermaldan -Architect - you guys in for regular swims and gym after work?

Ehhh... ANYONE PLS!!!... are you sure there is no magical pill that will make the pain go away????!!!!

Obelix said...

Ehhh... ANYONE PLS!!!... are you sure there is no magical pill that will make the pain go away????!!!!

There is. It's blue in colour, and a sort of romb shaped...

I always carry one of those with me when I sail, just in case of a mast snap.

I could say something.... but I won't...... no sir.... I'm leaving this one alone....

lotofwind said...

ikw777 said...

Dudes. Seriously.

Ummmm, shouldnt your poledancing pole be mounted vertical,not horizontal

Ohh haha oh hahaha my sides are splitting hahahaha.... just as well you keep your tampons on a string.

home brew helps the pain!