Deepwater Starts on a Sailboard

The deepwater start is where the sailor lies in deep water and lets the sail drag the sailor up and onto the board. When upgrading from a long to a short board, a deepwater start is a crucial skill to master.

But like every aspect of windsurfing, it is best not to rush out and expect to do a water start first off. Begin by doing standing starts, or beach starts, in shallow water.

A wetsuit or lifejacket providing buoyancy is handy as less effort is required to stay afloat.

How to Do a Deepwater Start

Start in chest deep water. Position the board and rig the same as doing a beach start, using the technique of moving the mast base to position the board. When everything is lined up, lie back in the water holding the boom above the head, making sure the sail doesn't fall in the water.

With the board facing slightly downwind, use the mast base to make fine adjustments to the direction of the board. Then pick a gust! Put the back foot in the centre of the board in front of the back footstraps. Lift the sail and kick with the front foot. If everything works right, the sail should catch the wind and lift the body out of the water. Then front foot can be placed onto the board.

Don't expect to be lifted magically onto the board - that only happens in high winds where both feet can be placed on the board. The sail is the most help which is why it must be held high to catch as much wind as possible. The muscles in the back foot will also help; as will the frantic kicking of the front foot.

Positioning the Windsurfer Rig

These are the basics of a deepwater start, but the hardest part of mastering them in deeper water, with great unknown depths underneath, is positioning the board. It's easy when standing on solid ground in chest deep water; not so when floundering over the dark blue depths with a camber-induced sail lying inverted on the other side of the board.

To overcome this problem, sink the back of the board under the boom so the boom rests on the board. The flotation of the board will force the sail out of the water. Then swivel the board around, with the sail still resting on the back, until the wind is coming over the shoulder again and the sail will want to fly.

Grab hold of the mast, flick it off the back of the board and everything will be in position for a start. This only works when the distance from the mast base to the boom connection is shorter than the distance from the mast base to the end of the board.

If proficient at turning it's a lot easier to head in the direction the board is already facing and turn around after sailing again.

Deepwater Starts Build Confidence

Once the deepwater start is mastered, other parts of a sailor’s repertoire will improve. A sailor can concentrate more on gybes and other tricks, like the body drag or chop jumping, as the concerns about falling off are lessened. It can be a good idea to practice more difficult manoeuvres while practising deepwater starts, thereby trying two things at once.

Eventually deepwater starts become second nature, especially when sailing during the cold winter months or when a sailor’s imagination takes over and memories of the movie “Jaws” come flooding back!

Water Start One

Water Start Two

Water Start Three

Water Start Four

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