Sorry guys, I should have been clearer.
I have been getting the hang of my new board, Temavento RC70.
I riding upwind really well, I think. Getting a nice 15-17 knots at about 50 degrees, so not really tight, but not bad.
The board is foiling nice and I feel in control.
Across (reaching) the wind I am doing OK, but finding it quite hard to get up to what I consider a good speed, but I can see that this will take time to find the fins properly. The board is flat and I am only occasionally getting lifted off the board. By that I mean, I know when I put too much pressure on the fins the board foils too much and kicks me off. Great crashes but when the air is 5C and the water about the same, it gets a little boring.
Off the wind (broad reaching).... Man... I pick up SO much speed that as soon as I put a tiny bit of pressure on the fins the whole board lifts off the water and I eat shit, hard.
I am riding the board in 4 strap mode, so am wondering if I should fit the 5th strap so that I can get my weight in over the middle/rear fin...
My theory is that I am pushing too hard with my back foot when riding off the wind which is why I am accelerating too fast and ending up being mauled by the board.
I have seen vids of guys running off wind and some guys come in on the board with the back foot and drive more with the front foot, some guys seem to just hang off the back of the board without changing strap.
I know it is all about practice and more time equals better skills but I ended up so far upwind last weekend that the only way i could get back downwind was to sit on the damn thing and float back.
The odd thing is, after my second session (2 hours in total) I can roll tack just fine, strap to strap and my gybing isn't too bad.
downwind? HELL NO!
After riding the Naish Venturi 70cm, the Temavento picks up speed SO much faster and foils SO much easier and controlled I can see the board is an amazing tool.
Just got to master the downwind and I might be able to race!
Thanks for your help.
Tony