11. SEAT HARNESS OVER SPEEDOS

Actually speedos should never be worn, full stop. And a seat harness with boardies is really uncomfortable, too. Generally, if you are wearing a seat harness, for comfort and aesthetics, wear a wetsuit.

12. THE STAND UP, LEAN BACK, SHEET OUT GYBE

The most common of all gybing mistakes, it’s the opposite of what you are supposed to do! By standing up, leaning back and sheeting out you are not using enough of the rail to drive you round the turn. Instead you are trying to use the back third of the rail, which is not designed for turning. As you move up towards the front of the board, the rail becomes more curved, this curved or more rounded shape allows the water to stick to it, which pulls the board around the turn. So from now on: get low, bend the knees and sheet in!

13. VANS WITH BARN DOORS

If you live in the UK, or anywhere that shares the same kind of non-sunny or dry climate, then a van with a lift-up tailgate backdoor can be very useful. It shelters you and a few friends from the rain and also gives you somewhere to hang your wetsuit. Another big plus point is that you don’t damage any equipment when getting out of the van. This is a common occurrence with the central opening, barn doors; they can slam shut when a gust of wind comes and it’s usually just when you are getting your prized board or mast out.

14. harness lines too short

The easiest way to gauge the harness line length you need for your size is to place your elbow into the bottom of your lines, from there the boom should sit in the palm of your hand if you’re wearing a waist harness, or to your wrist if you’re using a seat harness. If your lines are too short it can give you a horrible sensation of being stuck too close to your sail. Many people get used to this feeling and deal with it, but if you are one of them then get out there and try some longer lines; you won’t regret it.

15. Not colour coding

Looking good on the water starts with looking good on the beach! Wherever you are, you make sure you look as colour co-ordinated as possible. This is a foolproof way of making sure that even if you crash your gybes on the inside, people will still be checking you out on the beach.