3. GETTING IN AND OUT THE WATER. Copy

Weather forecast and sailing area are the first things you need to consider when you are about to sail. You must check the weather forecast in several webs online and the local regulations of the chosen sailing area, and the entrance and exit channels for boats. 

Your apparel must be adequate for the weather conditions and, ideally, slightly warmer than needed. Wearing a LIFE JACKET is essential and MANDATORY. 

As a general rule, you should never begin to sail without the supervision of another boat, or –at least– supervision of someone onshore that could help you if needed, since the wind will always carry you in its direction (leeward), and problems may arise if you are carried too far away offshore. During the first few days, you must avoid having any pier or swimming area leeward, since you will be probably carried toward them by the wind. The boat entrance and exit channels are exclusively for that purpose, and swimmers must avoid them as you must avoid their swimming  area. 

Carry the rig to the board to attach it or store it after you are done sailing. 

When carrying the rig to the shore, you must lift it over your head or hip level. In any case, it must never drag on the floor, and the clew must be facing leeward, as shown in the picture above. 

You will leave it on the ground with the mast facing windward and the clew facing leeward. Then you will place the board next to the mast foot. 

When carrying our board, if you can do it yourself, you need to grab it by the centre, approximately where the daggerboard pedal is, and you will carry it under the arm as if it were a book. If you cannot do it yourself, you will do it with the help of other person by grabbing the nose and the tail of the board and placing it close to your bodies, as if it were a book, with the surface close to your hip. Both people must be on the same side of the board.

Once the board is next to the rig, with the UJ placed close to the mast foot, you must make sure that the UJ position fits the size of your rig. Otherwise, you will need to adjust it. Once this is checked, you will attach the rig to the board, and it will be all set to get in the water.