Remember you can never sail directly into the wind. You have to sort of sneak up on it -- by "tacking" upwind as shown. Note the approximate wing position. It must always maintain an angle of attack. Because you are headed fairly close into the wind the wing is kept in fairly close.
Tacking to a Windward Destination
Running to a Down Wind Destination - Note the Wing is all the way out.
Sailing on a reach is sailing with the wind to Port or Starboard or somewhat aft. Note the wing setting in the diagram below. Let the wing out or pull in as to increase in boat speed.
Keep in mind the wing settings shown are only approximate. We wouldn't want to take all the experimenting away from you, now would we?
Reaching on a Port Tack - Note the Wing is out 30 to 40 degrees.
The Launch
First decide which of the three situations is most likely yours: 1. "Run Out" with the wing all the way out (wind to your back, sail straight out from shore); 2. "Start On A Reach" with the wing out 30- to 40 degrees (wind in your face, and tack your way out); or 3. "Reach Out" with the wing out 30-40 degrees (wind to your side, and sail straight out from shore).
Wade your boat out in water deep enough so that you can pull your rudder and centerboard down (do not lock or cleat the rudder down in the shallow water). It would be nice here to enlist the aid of someone to give you a shove off. Set your wing and go. Once you are in deeper water, cleat the rudder and centerboard in full down position.
