If the foot straps (apparently) aren't placed right ...

The placing of the foot straps is a very individual and personal matter. Some of us are created (or worn!) warped, and others have assumed rather awkward positions on the board. Anyway, the placement of the foot straps is a very important part of the trim of the board - yes, an otherwise condemned board often only needs to have the foot strap positions altered to be a much better board.

Below you'll find some very personal thoughts that are not harmonized with wiser and better sailors:

Example from a situation that doesn't demand change of positions.

If for instance the forward foot keep coming out of the foot strap (or you have the feeling of not to being able to reach it comfortably), the problem might be compensated by ...

• putting on a bigger fin

• lowering the boom

• let go some of the outhaul tension, so that the sail gains more power and rise more up (forward).

Examples on how to get a better trim by changing the placements in the existing holes.

• The more you place the forward straps across the board, the more you shall have a tendency to rotate body (and eyes!) forward. And for one or another reason it's a lot easier to go upwind, when you look upwind. It might feel awkward rotating your forward foot in "Chaplin position" - but it does function.

•  The more you move the forward screw of the backward straps towards the middle of the board, the easier you can place the heel of your backward foot more forward on the rail. An by pushing a little more forward with your backward foot, you often succeed in leveling the board more relative to the water - and thus you go better upwind and keep planing longer in marginal winds.

• The shorter distance between forward and backward straps, the easier it is to hit that memorable trim, where you (almost) only sail on the fin with the board (almost) out of the water - and where you just avoid sky rocketing with the whole equipage.

• The more towards the centerline of the board you place the straps (especially the backward), the better you get away with sailing with a smallish fin without pressing down the windward rail. In turn, with this setup you'll have less control with a bigger fin with better lift, and it might be difficult to put the required hard pressure on the fin, so that the board "sail free".

When you might consider new plugs and holes.

One attitude to awkward placed plug is that you've got to get accustomed to it. However, if you are quite certain, which strap placement setup fits your sailing style - and this setup in no way can be obtained with the existing holes - the only way out can be to place some new plugs in the board. And if you're very eager to make experiments, in fact it can be a very amusing occupation to spread some new plugs over your board. But a little consideration: Experiences show that while you early in the seasons can be inclined to new and "defensive" strap placements, later in the season you most often find your way back to the authorized and perhaps a little more challenging placements (probably as result of better training condition and confidence).

Below you'll see how the risk taking DIY sailor can increase the possibilities for strap placement. First a couple of hints:

• Too much epoxy at a time make it "boil up", and the heat from this process easily melts the foam of the board.

• From the minute you start lamination/gluing your board with epoxy till the epoxy is hardened, the temperature mustn't rise, as this shall result in epoxy being pressed out of expanding air in the hull. Best is, if the temperature during the hardening process drops a little, so that the epoxy is pulled a little into the board. And in any case it's best to leave the ventilation screw open.

OK - we've decided that the Starboard 161 has too little possibilities of placement for the backward foot straps.

The wish is to have the possibility to place the straps a little more forward, a little more towards the centerline of the board and a little more angled (forward holes more inside than the backward ones).

It's pretty seldom that you can just pull off the foot pads - and also in this example, where the pads have been carefully cut off with a knife. The same knife (and perhaps a hammer) then has been used to cut holes for the new plugs.

A close up of the new plugs and the holes for them. In this case the plugs (Nautix) has been modified to fit the new Starboard anti twist devices. The sides of the holes have been "painted" with a little epoxy.

Strips have been clipped from some glass weave, and the strips then are pressed a little down in the holes, so that the depressions can contain a little epoxy.

The plugs have been pressed down the holes with glass weave and epoxy. The quantity of epoxy is about right, if a few drops of epoxy are squeezed up on the deck.

The epoxy has hardened, and glass weave and plugs have been sanded level with the board. Then e few layers of glass/epoxy are placed to cover the plugs and surrounding areas.

Again the epoxy is hardened, and the glass weave has been sanded (almost) level with the board. As an extra precaution against leakage some acrylic lacquer is sprayed over the area (the lacquer shall be able to withstand contact adhesive).

The foot pad has been glued (with contact adhesive) in place, and to localize the holes some pins are used. You can now carefully drill through the foot pad to the holes in the plugs.

Voila - now you have more possibilities to place the foot straps - and you can even use a combination of old holes with new ones.

Life isn't always easier with more possibilities., But at least it might give you some peace in mind to know that you have the possibility to experiment a little.

The first experiment is to fasten the straps in forward hole in the old backward plug - and in the backward hole in the forward new plug. Only a little sailing shall show, if this is the right solution.