carrying the kit

I sail in several spots where the walk to the water, or the walk to water deep enough to clear the fin, is a decent distance. I've been trying to get the hang of both holding the board & sail on my head and holding the sail on my head and my board in my hand (by a footstrap). I can't get the hang of this. Hauling my board to and from the beach can be tiring, especially because I'm trying to keep it out of the mud & weeds.

What are the tricks? I've tried both several times, but can't really get the hang of it. I know how to carry it in relation to the wind and such, but the balance seems off. Carrying each individually isn't a problem, just together.

Hans Practice, practice,practice. I grab the mast and footstrap with the windward hand, leeward hand usually grabs the foot of the sail or boom if it's real windy or I need to climb up a cliff. Often just one hand is enough though after you get the hang. Keep your head near the mast and find the balancing point that works. Maybe raise your booms and try it. Are they real low? Walking down wind is the hardest, sometimes I walk backwards.

Another option to carrying it on your head is to carry it normally except flip the board over towards you and grab the outside rail (one hand on the boom, the other on the outside rail). The inside rail rests against the mast. The kit feels more like one piece rather than a board and rig, much more stable and easier to carry. Also the fin is pointing up and the board rides much higher than normal making it easier to carry over shallow water, rocks, logs, small children, etc.. Probably wouldn't work well on large

My way - Point the board into the wind. Lift the sail and stand it into the wind then grasp it by the mast below the boom with the windward hand. Bend your knees and duck your head under the boom and let the sail fall onto your head, at the same grab a back footstrap. Lift the whole lot and walk off. The sail's balance point will be just about on the second batten and it can be damned uncomfortable as it digs into your head. Also this method can put a lot of stress on a sail. I have cracked the mono on a big sail and popped the stitching on a panel on a 6.2, but have had no other difficulties.

My buddy put a foam knee pad in the top of his hat. Might help.

On Sun, 7 Jul 2002 20:17:42 +1000, 'The Dennises'

People have also damaged necks and sails doing it this way.

Mike m/

Not so much RECOMMENING this approach, but it worked for me when making major treks upwind on the OR coast. After trying to carry board and sail in the 'normal' manner a half-miles into a 4.0 headwind, with both sail and board flopping every WHICH way every few seconds, I found a technique that actually WORKED:

1. Throw everything on the damned beach. The wind's already done it four times, so what's the harm? 2. Grab the rear footstrap in one hand. 3. Face into the wind. 4. Walk. 5. Your kit will follow. One way or another, your damned kit will follow.

It's not elegant, but by God it WORKS, and with MUCH less effort.

OTOH, I have filed the more elegant techniques from this thread for future reference. Whether I will tape a pillow on top of my helmet remains to be seen; I do have SOME pride.

Mike m/