Had a lovely day out at Hayling yesterday, and at least I didnt break a mast, but my boat control was disappointing, and I felt very uneasy....I know the waves were not large by any means, but I didnt seem to be coping too well!

Who has some sage advice on how to relax, how to steer, how not to make a big hash of it all? Any good books to bury my nose in?

More practice is obviously needed, but without a few handy tips as well, I will take a long time to improve!

We don't have much experience on waves, but those waves were pretty yucky yesterday, I think that they were niether big nor small, and no real pattern. After breaking the mast, Natt & I took out MArk's pink boat, and we felt really uneasy too, I helmed the last run & the trip home and that was pretty horrid.

I'm glad that we are not alone, as the boats at the front didn't look bothered at all.

Ah - but you aren't able to see the look of fear on the faces of the leaders.  Perhaps they are faster because they enjoy it less and just want to get into the bar as soon as possible (they are Rocketeers after all)!!!!  I had the same experience in Peterhead in Scotland but for me it was rollers/swell off the North Sea which was strange to cope with - perhaps a 4-5 ft swell after the wind had died even though they were spaced far apart.

No, it brought it home to me when I saw Rong Number gybe right next to me, as if experiencing a F2 inland...whilst I swung from side to side like a loon.

They were very tricky yesterday...

Yeah was finding it v.tricky.
How much board were people using on the run & through the gybes in those conditions?

We used half board, although I spoke to a top crew after who advised lashing the board so it cant float above 3/4 down in those conditions.

Mags, the gybe would be a combination of picking the right point of the wave, experience, going fast as you start to go down it a good theory, and keeping the boat totally flat, the flatness is important as anything else throws you around.

p.s. We went terminally over due to a failing we learnt about at Rutland training. Communication. Crew had head in boat whilst helm had a gust to deal with. And slow reaction time - trouble with having me as on old crew.

luckily for all those who found the waves a bit intimidating, there is some serious training coming up at whitstable (short chop), and shoreham (proper big waves).

I agree the board is very important - half board is best downwind. If it is too much up it is very hard to steer and too far down tends to 'trip the boat up'.
The rudder is very important too - there must be NO play in the rudder fittings or any lifting bits - that is why I like a fixed rudder although there are some good lifting ones now.
Steering has to be positive - always steer to keep the boat under the mast. You will soon get the hang of it and then it so much fun.

Dan Alsop was really going well on the runs, he was sailing a higher angle than most and really benefiting by picking up the waves and not lolling around like the rest of us. I reckon this is a more stable way on the runs but its a fine line between sailing too long a course

The kicking strap is crucial too - it has to be eased before you bear away at the top mark but not so far that the top of the mainsail can blow in front of the mast. This is what causes the 'death roll' in to windward. Certainly not running square is quicker - I think when you can get it right a weaving course is best. Down the face of the wave and the along the trough, always looking to point the bow down hill if pos.

The best way i have found to do it is to stay on top of the wave as long as possible then bear off down it and come up again just as you reach the trough. This keeps speed up and lets you surf back and forward along the wave pattern but it is very easy to get wrong and end up in Davy Jones's locker.keep the weight back and try to steer across the next hill instead of through it when its windy. You might not win but you will smile.

Well done Hamish, that is a perfect description of how to do it.
It is like those surfing videos from Australia!