by > My arms just get awfully tired after less than one hour of
> windsurfing.
> The arm fatigue hampers my sail handling and sometimes even
> my ability to balance the board about its roll axis.
> Yes, yes, I know a harness would help. So would falling less
> often (and therefore uphauling the sail less often).
1978, when they had (an)teak booms. As I remember, "high-wind
daggerboards" didn't appear until harnesses were invented. That
says something.
I can remember the dire fear I felt when I first hooked into a
harness. This fear was realized when I got sling-shot into the
sail. Anybody ever calculate the velocity of a body by the time
it hits a sail in one of those sling shots? There's some serious
acceleration going on there, so it can HURT. No doubt about it,
harnesses are scary. But man-o-man are they useful.
Eventually I learned. The early harnesses were chest harnesses,
so I learned to consciously get lower (bend my knees and get
DOWN) as a gust started to hit. I also learned to (at least try
to) reach down and unhook as I was sling-shot (a controlled launch
is a gas).
So what's the point? The point is that the only thing to do is
get into a harness. There is a *WORLD* of difference. Put your
weight to use, instead of abusing your muscles.
> Can anyone name one or more land-based exercises that
> would improve arm strength and endurance for windsurfing?
> -------------------------------------------------------------
get an all over work out sailing. After a good (long) day of
sailing every single muscle in your body will be worked, but
not strained. It's a great feeling.
bq
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