Hi there. I'm new to this forum so this is my first post.

I learnt the basics of wimdsurfing out in vasiliki a couple of years ago.
I have a very old alpha 160, a longboard with a daggerboard which I have been sailing on at home. Just bought a bic techno 283 as my first intermediate board. I am struggling to keep the damn thing in a straight line, which I know is down to my technique. When I power up and start to pick up speed the board always turns downwind, I briefly got onto the plane and it was awesome but it immediately turned away from the wind.

From what I have read I need to do two things, step back and further out on the windward rail and tilt the rig back and sheet in. Or is it because I'm not in the harness yet so there's not enough mast foot pressure? I always seem to be miles away from the harness lines. There just seems to be so many things to do. Any advice would be really appreciated.

step back and further out on the windward rail and tilt the rig back and sheet in

that should mostly do it - In my experience teaching (which was a while ago!) I remember most people had the opposite problem i.e. they couldn't bear away without getting pulled over the front...

I'm not sure about your step further out on the windward rail as this may cause you to bear away on a long board with daggerboard - opposite to a planing board with no daggerboard.
If you look up flare gybe technique you should see that to initiate the turn you put the rig forward (dicey bit!) and sink the windward rail - if you have a daggerboard fully down and some speed this will have an enormous effect to the point where if you're not ready the board will gybe & you will carry on....

let us now how you get on

Try moving your mastfoot more towards the back of the slot.

You should also practice using your harness in non planing winds. Are you sure your lines are in the correct place and the correct length? It shouldnt be too hard to hook in and out with minimal movement.

To pickup on your comment about not being able to get near the harness lines - could be a number of things...

1. Lines too short - look to have at least 28" lines if not 30" or 32"
2. Lines set too far forwards - a classic mistake made by many, causing all kinds of problems, one of which is not being able to reach the lines!
3. Looking at the harness lines as you try to get into the harness- means you end up rolling shoulders, sticking butt out which put your hook further rather than closer to the harness lines!


Hope the above may help get you using the harness, which in turn will help get control of the sail in a fresh breeze and make holding a course easier.