I Did Not Know That

I was checking out Steve Bodner's racing blog from the Midwinters when I came upon this photo of race boards. Check out the inboard rear straps on the Mike's Lab board, and the single center strap on the F2 (someone taking that thing out into the waves?) The Puffin inquired.

"The center straps in the formula board are for the downwind legs when it gets crazy" Steve told the Puffin. "By putting your foot more in the centerline of the board you take pressure off the fin and get more control."

I did not know that...but it makes sense.

Steve has lots of information about racing on his excellent blog, which (along with your humble Peconic Puffin) is a 2007 honoree of The Popeye Awards for yammering about goofing off on the water.

Comments

[James Douglass]

You can put center straps on the starboard formula boards, too. For less-skilled sailors like me they're essential for going downwind when it's heavy and rough. When it's really hairy, some people will even put their back foot all the way over into the leeward strap.

[Peconic Puffin (Michael)]

I know we're talking about race gear, but I think that putting your foot into the leeward back strap is a very "freestyle" thought! But I'm also mindful of a story told by Peter Hart on one of his early tapes where he explained that racers were the early freestylers because of all the crazy stuff they needed to do to jockey for (and then hold) position before a race. Thanks James!