Skill_Level: advanced (solid water-starting, good jibing)
Date: 08/29/02
I, too, have felt the pain of trying to get out in Duluth in that relentless shorebreak. I hate to see so many guys go up there with limited success. Finally making it out in those conditions can be one of the most fulfilling sailing experiences you'll ever have.
Lessons
Here are some tips for getting out that will hopefully difference.
1. WALK out as far as you possibly can. This gives you the most room to bear off for speed when you first get up. Most people I see are getting tangled up 10 feet from shore, you can walk quite a ways out...
2. Do whatever you can to get on a plane and stay on a plane.
3. DON'T 'try' to get out. Patience, grasshopper. Think about beam-reaching and going fast as much as you can while not running into shore. When you see a break in the waves AND you have some wind, start heading up a bit.
3a. When you are at home on flatwater practice going upwind smoothly and with speed.
4.'pre-jump' the waves when you hit them (planing). as you approach a wave bear into it at the last second, pull the nose up (basically lift you hands (and the rig)) and jump/ollie the whitewater. You MUST head into the wave a little. As you come over the top start to bear off and almost head with the backside of the wave. Do NOT put pressure on the fin until you are well-clear of the whitewater or you WILL spin out.
5. Wait for openings and only try to go over waves you are pretty sure you can pound over. Yes, if that wave is only 2ft but breaking on your board, it will knock you off your feet. Carve downwind a little until it breaks THEN punch through the whitewater.
I hope that helps. Those are the things that go through my mind when I've sailed Duluth. I've talked with Randy and other people, and I believe they pretty much do the same thing. I can even schlog out through the waves now, the trick is getting used to riding over the whitewater whether you are planing or not. Planing is obviously preferred.
