Has anyone got any tips on how to uphaul a 9m race sail? I was surprised just how hard it was, pretty sure my left testicle is floating in the bay after the effort I put in on Sunday.
Has any one used the technique where you hook into your harness? how does it work?
I use the board, with my 11M its quite easy that way, but you need to be carefull, as you can easily damage your board. If the sails on the right side, and there is enough wind I waterstart it, otherwise I uphaul.
Get on the otherside of the board, use the uphaul as normal, but use the board as a lever to lift it just enough to get it out of the water, and use the wind to help with the rest. I have seen people use a easy uphaul thing which is easy to make.
But I find using the board as a lever works, to assist, but my formula board has a carbon deck and is one of the tougher ones and I am still pulling hard on the rope, and try and use the wind as much as possible.
The easiest way I've found is similar to racerX.
Swing the sail around so the boom can rest on the back of the board (hopefully the straps) and put your front foot half way in between the mast base and the boom. That way you are pulling closer to straight up rather than backwards, away from the sail.
I sail an RS:X with a 9.5 and it doesn't seem too hard this way.
I use the easy uphaul with my gastra vapour 9.5m sail. I have three of them on my various booms. You can do your own modification to a standard uphaul but on a cost benefit its the cheapest bit of safety equipment considering your risk of back injury not to mention your left testicle. It makes uphauling very easy and saves a ton of energy which allows you to stay out sailing longer.
It rates up there with the North Powerx base in my favorite items of kit.
Mate if your using that you really need to be waterstarting, if the luff fills with water its very difficut.
1) When if you fall in get the sail "floating" on the water asap so it doesnt fill with water
2)climb on board and grab uphaul, just lean back, slowly no rush now, the sail will come out and eventually "realease" from the water.
3) dont fall off again
4) quickly learn to waterstart conserves energy and faster
have fun
I picked up a easy uphaul from sunshinecoast sailboards last week to use with my 9.5. Works great can even lean back and have a little rest as the sail comes up
Swim or paddle the sail around so you can get the wind under the sail and then lift the leading edge up so the wind can flow under the sail. It will almost lift its self out of the water. Busting a gut to pull the sail out of the water is too hard and will suck the strength out of your arms. Good luck.
Some people feel that using the uphaul is just not tough.
Good luck to them.
for anyone who just wants to do it the easy way give this a try.
those of us who are always sailing big sails 8.5, 9.5 and don't work out in the gym everyday can stick to uphauling. even if you don't always use it its a bit of luxury for when you get a bit tired and don't want to strugle with your rig.
details for uphaul. http://www.easy-uphaul.com/index.html
All the shops have them or can get them.
Hey Bart, I now use an Easy Up-haul too. Water-starting is preferred, but if I have to swim the 11.0 into position to do so (not flying or will take a bit to fly it), then it's just quicker to use the EU, and at the end of a session it's a lot easier too.
The only thing I don't like about the EU is it's too short for me when using the 11 on the F162, so I'm standing too far inboard to really get the most out of it. I could solve this by adding an extension, but I only drop the sail maybe once a session when it's under 15 knots. I doubt this would be a problem for you with a 9.0 though.
H
easy up haul! pure genius, will get myself one of those! I forgot to mention that it was only about 5 knots so waterstarting was not an option. I dont think I would ever contemplate uphauling a 9m once you had enough wind to waterstart.
My left testicle thanks you all for the above advice!
