We start Part 3 with footstrap sailing, which requires a new stance and a new way of steering.   Uphauling in these conditions is almost impossible, so we use a different method of getting underway:  the waterstart.  The most common high-wind turn is the carved gybe, of which there are three basic variations:  the feet-first carved gybe, the step gybe and the feet-last carved gybe.  Included in this book is the carved gybe recovery—you’ll use it often at first—which is also the technique for gybing a short-board when the wind significantly lightens.  Next is the ski gybe, a turn that may feel more natural to skiers and skaters.  Part 3 rounds out your repertoire with the crowd-pleasing duck gybe.

If you found the HLOWs (Necessary Knowledge, Book 2) helpful in Light- and Moderate-wind, you’ll find them essential in high-wind.   The penalties for violating a HLOW in lighter wind were things like one uphaul or one raspberry on your shin.  The penalties in high-wind sailing are, shall we say, more enervating.  So, when windsurfing with the white-caps . . .

• Be assertive.
• Use technique not strength.
• Be limber.
• Stand straight.
• Sheet-in.
• Keep front arm straight.
• Keep front hand higher than back hand.

In case you missed it, we just added a seventh HLOW Keep front hand higher than back hand.  This one is specific to, and pervasive in, high-wind sailing.  Later chapters elaborate on the misfortunes that occur when the back hand becomes higher than the front hand.

Since we added a seventh HLOW, we might as well add a seventh step to the usual six: Check your aft.  Before every turn, look at the area to your rear (aft) into which you will be turning— there might be someone or something you’d rather not bump into.  Therefore, before you tack check back-windward, and before you gybe check back-leeward.  If you don’t, you or someone else might not be doing any turning for a while. Take this step very seriously!