Boom height has direct impact on performance.
A low boom will make initiation of planing difficult and make un-hooking the harness difficult. An overly high boom promotes early tail walking, makes manoeuvres difficult and can make hooking and un-hooking the harness difficult.
A good position to begin is chest/shoulder level.
If there is too little wind for the sail size being used, the boom is best raised to assist the initiation of planing. A higher boom places more of the windsurfer's weight onto the rig, and less on the board. Consequently, the board has a greater capacity to lift and plane.
If the wind is strong for the sail size, lowering the boom will give the windsurfer greater control. With a lower boom position, the rider's weight becomes more board oriented, increasing board control in rough conditions.
