How do you depower on a windsurfer?
 

I have read somewhere that on a windsurfer you over-sheet in order to de-power during gusts. This seems counter intuitive to me because I have learned the opposite as far sailing small boats--when over powered sheet out to spill the wind from your sail. Than again, this would probably depend on the point of sail one is on. Can someone clarify what a newbe should do when a gust hits to continue sailing?

Hi jpon,
At a beginner level, simply taking the 2 fingers of your back hand (you only need to use 2 fingers with
sail sizes up to 5.0 m2) off the boom and letting the sail sheet out is the best way to depower your sail,.
In the same manner that you "ease the sheeting angle" in a dinghy or small boat, you simply allow th sail to sheet out.
Where you picked up the "over sheeting" to depower is for much larger sails, where if you sheet out suddently it removes most of the mast foot pressure from the board and can cause major crashes/issues.
When planing into a jibe at very high speed, on much larger sails, oversheeting can be the thing to do.
It depowers the sail some, it pulls the board into the carve turn nicely and sets the sailor up to enter the jibe with lots of speed and a constant pressure.
For now, simply ease your sheeting angle with your back hand.
Roger

Yep like Roger said, I usually just adjust by maintaining my balance and letting out some of the throttle by letting the sail out some!