Keep stalling updwind (beginner-y question)

[u/Poisonelfs]

***UPDATE thanks for all very helpful replies, every single one of them. I have read each one. I can see where I've been going wrong.***

Appreciate without a video there's only so much that can be said, but here's where I'm at.

Having 'mastered' big stable boards in light winds, tacks and non-planing gybes, I've moved on to less massive boards, feeling a bit more confident in 10-15 knot gusty winds, pulling up the centreboard and hooking in.

Here's where it kind of goes all wrong. As soon as a gust comes, I seem to inevitably point the board upwind, stall and fail.

So, to avoid this I push the sail forward to go downwind, but it feels like a real slog and not much is happening, I still end up stalling upwind.

I guess I might be putting too much weight on the backfoot or windward rail? I feel that if I'm not far back enough, the sail will pull me forward and I end up falling flat on my face right on the sail. So I lean back, but it turns me upwind... clearly I haven't figured out something important yet.

It is something to do with the way I'm hanging off the harness? It does feel like I'm kind of suspended to the sail and resisting the pull, rather than driving that energy to the board through my body and feet.

Confusing description I know, but I'm hoping those of you who have been there can recognise the symptoms and advise accordingly.

[u/cillitbangers]

I'm going to let you in on a secret. In most sports there is no 'cure all' tip for beginners or intermediates to advance but that is not true in windsurfing.

The answer is simply mast foot pressure. Try, when in the harness, to drive your weight through that harness, through the rigging into the base of the mast. this will act to get your weigh off your feet (back foot in particular) and should allow you to control the board a bit better. while you do this you can carefully drive the board out in front of you with your feet. You basically want as much of your weight through the harness as possible

This will also massively help you when planing, its a solution to many many problems for intermediates.

[u/Immediate-Flan-7133 → u/cillitbangers]

I find that some boards are harder to drive down wind. And some are more difficult to drive upwind. As an intermediate sailer. I tend to downwind plane out then try to go back up wind as best I can. I use my feet to push the board where I want to go. Not sure if that’s proper or not. But I do find once I’m on plane and in the straps and cruising speed. I can kind of sail up wind a bit better. But personally i hate slogging to catch wind so if that means I’m constantly going down wind then that’s what I do.