JOINING THE RIG AND THE BOARD, AND TRANSPORTING THEM TO THE WATER

We, finally, arrived at the time to link the rig to the board, and then enter the water. This operation must be done on the shoreline, obviously on the part where the shorebreak does not arrive, even if, in the case of relatively flat water, light wind, and shallow water in front of the shore, it can also be done in the water, bringing from the shore first the sail, and then the board (at the exit you will do the opposite: first the board is brought out of the water - as if left to the current, wind and waves, they could easily take it away - and then the sail, without delaying too long).

But how to get to the shore, if we rigged far from it?
In the case of beginner boards of generous volume (and weight), first, we will carry the board that we can carry under our arms holding it by the daggerboard, or the daggerboard track, if it has one; if it is without the daggerboard, we can carry it under our arm holding it by the mast foot (which, obviously, will be already screwed up); or, on our head upside down (but in case of long walkings, raised arms can get tired), tail forward, and holding it by the two front straps (or by the rail/edges); the latter mode requires attention, but has the advantage of offering less lateral surface to the gusts.

The sail must be carried as second (having, however, left it in a safe place, sheltered from the wind, in the meantime, especially in case of strong wind, because otherwise leaving it on the beach alone, while taking the board, it could fly away ...). In case of wind from the sea, we will carry it over our head, heading towards the water with the mast sleeve base forward, keeping one hand on the boom (more or less in the center) and the other on the mast. If the wind is side shore, we will carry it with the mast strictly pointing upwind.

Many, then, carry the sail, especially in case of wind not exactly from the sea, holding it with the mast resting on their hip, and holding the boom and mast, in order to balance it even with the wind help. When you will be more expert, and you will use smaller boards, you will learn how to transport rig and board, already joined together, to the shore.

The classic and most correct method to enter the water, from the shore is this: assuming a classic onshore wind (i.e. straight from the sea), we position the sail on one side with the handle and the mast into the wind (and towards the sea), and the clew leeward, holding the rig by the boom with one hand, and take the board with the other hand, grabbing it by a front strap, with the stern windward. If the wind is not perfectly onshore, we still maintain the aforementioned orientation of the various components with respect to the wind.

So, to enter into the water, let's now join the board and rig, placing the board vertical (perpendicular to the beach) with rail touching the ground, to insert the mast foot pin into the extension, up to hearing the "clack", which indicates the block. We check that the end of the uphaul line has remained correctly wrapped around the extension. Now let's take, facing the ground (i.e. with your back towards the wind), the board for the front upper strap, and the rig for the boom near the handle. If our board doesn't have any straps, let's take it from the the daggerboard box (hull side), or from the daggerboard itself, after pulling it out a bit. After that, we lift everything and, walking slowly backwards, with caution and always checking in all directions, let's head into the water, walking until the water gets more or less to our knees. If in carrying it, we realize that the tip and / or leech of the sail, the boom end, or the board crawl on the ground, we proceed with caution, checking that there are no sharp stones, or rocks, or other dangers, in which case it will be better to consider a separate transport in the water of the sail, first, and of the board, then.

Now, we are ready to begin our session. 

Practical advice: if we have to leave the equipment on the beach for a while, for example to rest a bit, remember to position the board and sail first of all outside the undertow action, that is, in dry conditions, and furthermore, always with the sail downwind of the board; better, then, if we position the board upside down, or, if with deck up, with the fin planted in the sand. If the board were not connected to the rig, it is also customary to insert the board between the boom and the sail (with the base of the mast always oriented in the wind), planting the fin in the sand.

Respecting these tips is mandatory in case of strong wind, but it is not bad to learn how to position the equipment correctly even in light winds. Let us remember that a crazy rig that flies away can cause damage to people and things, so never leave it alone and disconnected from the board in full power wind, or connected, but upwind of the board. 

Hang loose. Nico e Fabio

Also check instructional video page, for further and useful tips.