1. Lose the uphaul, it creates drag.
2. The most common mistakes I see on the amateur race course are rigging small and not having enough downhaul. Rig bigger, downhaul more. You need the extra power to get out of jibes, get off the start line and deal with the lulls. If you are comfortable freeriding a sail, it's too small for racing!
Physically - I do off-the-water training, including weights and cycling.
Nutritionally - Windsurfing is an endurance race. You might sit around all day, or you might be racing all day. You need to be nutritionally prepared.
For formula racing, the first thing I try to do, is find someone to train/test with, as you need someone to compare with when you are testing equipment.
It’s also important to train efficiently, meaning when you are testing, sail close to each other and often change from being on leeward to being on windward.
The most important thing if you want to be successful in racing is to know your equipment.
I spend a lot of time not only on the water, but also making sure that my equipment is all set up right and tuned as it should be if you are not sure about the set up then you should get some expert help from your local NP dealer. They will be happy to help.
Here in Holland GPS speed is growing big time and most people use real race sails to improve their personal bests and attack the local spot records.
Since it is the off season my first tip will be on training during the off season. To be completely ready for the first race of the season you have to start preparing right after the end of the last race of the season. One of the most important things is to rest your body properly and recharge it with the right foods and nutrition. If your body is not rested and operating at full capacity there is no way you will be able to perform at the 110% you need to for racing. This doesn't mean that you need to stop everything all together and just eat lots of good food but you do need to taper off for a couple of months and get good quality and a good amounts of sleep.
When using these sails the rigging dimensions should only be used as a guide. Race sail tuning is a very personal feel dictated by sailing styles, boards and personal preference. Play with your gear and your tuning settings to find what is right for you. All our top level racers tune their gear slightly differently to one another. Here are a few pointers:
