Handling chop from rear quarter

[hbsteve]

I paddled at a slight angle into small wind chop & swell without much problem, yesterday.  When I turned around, with the chop at about the 5 o'clock position, I had some trouble.  I did switch from left foot foreword to right foot foreword, which is my weaker position.  I switch for the challenge and to try to work both sides equally.  So, my questions are:  With the chop coming from 5 o'clock, would I have been better of with my left foot foreword?  What else can I do to handle this better?

[balance_fit]

Hi !
Seems that you have trouble keeping track while going off wind.
In general, if the wind comes from the right I place left foot back and towards the left rail, while sliding the right foot towards the midline of the board. This stance allows me to improve tracking by shifting weight into the leeward rail while unweighing the windward rail. If the wind is stronger I may heel the board on the lee side, helping it to steer into the breeze.
I adjust stance from that basic position depending if I'm heading up, side or downwind.
Placing left foot forward will steer the board offwind.
In your case, wind from 5'o clock, I add a paddle effect by catching further away from the windward rail and pulling the nose into wind while heeling lee side with left foot back.
If running with bumps, I can use the paddle as a forward rudder by inserting it close to the windward bow, power face outward and blade parallel to the direction I'm going. From there, I slightly steer the nose of the board towards the paddle by pitching the blade in the direction I want to go.
If planing on the bump, I steer the board into the direction I want to go.
Please note that these techniques work well in my sup, a LahuiKai Mitcho 14, which has a pintail, double concave bottom and non piercing bow. I use raked fins because of weeds, all the way forward in the box.
Practice lots !
Be well

[hbsteve]

I'm paddling a 12' Surftech Laird.  I understand what you said.  I was thinking, what I did was basically go backside.  So, I was thinking going front side might be better.  Considering the board I'm on, is your advice the same?   I'm not ready to get a bigger board.  Budget, storage space, and vehicle all play a part in this decision.

[balance_fit]

Don't despair, my first sup was a Laird 12. I practiced these tips I gave you on it with some success. Try standing more forward while applying the stance modfications.
What fin are you using?

[hbsteve]

I'll try your suggestions.  Fin is a 10" surftech.

[balance_fit]

Keep us posted !

[ODJ]

These were the EXACT same conditions i encountered yesterday afternoon once i left oceanside harbor into the open ocean. Wind at my back, paddling parallel to the shore, but the swell direction was hitting me at like a 30 degree angle from the back, making it impossible to actually ride the swell because it would mean that i would be carried right into the beach (or pier) eventually. Fortunately my board handles really well, just widened my stance a touch and split my feet just the tiniest bit and got down just a bit lower for stability with no troubles. Was really happy I ended up going with a 28 inch wide board. i am 6'2, with broad shoulders, and my board has a 2.5" sunken deck on it, and you actually lose about 2-2.5 inches of real estate on each side for foot placement because of the sunken deck. It was actually more fun I thought when I turned around and paddled INTO the wind because I could time my strokes better and even though I was getting hit with the swell at an angle, i could time the peaks and valleys better since I could see them coming at me and eventually got into a rhythm.

[hbsteve]

My fin has been moved since I bought the board.  It is as far back as it can get.  It seems to me, if my primary use is paddling, it should be as far foreword as possible.  Is this correct?