Footstraps
Foodstraps are for more experienced windsurfers and a step up in skill level from the harness. You use footstraps when the wind is steady and strong enough to stay planning but not gusty. Footstraps give a windsurfer more control at speed.
Footstraps should be snug around the whole foot, with the little toe just poking through, it should require a little wiggle to get the foot in, but fairly easy to release.
Footstrap positions are based on the windsurfer, their skill level and what they are trying to do on their board and their board, and there are different positions for different needs.
If you're totally new to footstraps, set them at the inboard and forward settings on your board.
Rear Strap Positioning - For virtually every planing session, regardless of the size, shape and volume of your board, have the trailing edge of the back foot next to the leading edge of the fin. This works on early planers, cruisers, high wind blasters and most boards with a fixed fin position. There is a tolerance of 1-3cm either in front or behind the leading edge of the fin.
Front Strap Positioning - You would think that with the diversity in people's height, there would be a massive difference in strap spread. However, the mechanics of how a windsurfer works and the foot spread needed to establish control over the board largely over-rides the big differences in leg length, nearly every sailor ends up with roughly 55-60cm between their straps. Bearing in mind that for anything other than advanced freestyle or wave sailing, your primary objective with strap positioning is keeping the board flat. Starting with a strap spread of 57-58cm you could fine tune it by: 1. If well powered on flat water, you could bring your front footstrap back 1-2cm. 2. If the tail is sinking in light wind, move the front strap (and maybe the back) 1-2cm. 3. If you are jumping, or the nose is lifting move the front strap forward 1-2cm.
Putting the straps outboard - When you are basically only doing blasting/freeriding (and are competent with the harness and straps) set the straps more towards the windward edge so you can hook your heel over the rail to drive more against it. This is particularly important on higher volume boards with bigger fins, and more boxy rails.
Putting the straps inboard - If your foot catches the water when blasting, or the leeward strap during gybes, you may want a more inboard setting (providing you can still keep the board flat). Full inboard settings are used on smaller, high wind, freestyle and wave orientated boards. It brings the body forward which is good for tricks, waves and non-blasting.
Single back strap - A single back strap is easier to access, and much more suited to freestyle or wave-sailing, and works well in breezy bouncy conditions when blasting is less of an issue
Double/Outer back strap -If it's blasting or racing that you're into, then getting the back foot out on to the rail will make the board much easier to control