Newbie foiler struggling with foiling on port tack... why?

1 year ago
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49 posts
20 Jan 2025 7:10am
As I've progressed through my foiling journey over the past couple of months, I have successfully got to the point where I'm no longer a danger to myself or others now.

I'm using harness lines confidently, foiling for multiple kms solid, and even starting to think about my first foiling gybes.

One thing has remained consistently difficult and at times even slightly scary in that time though: sailing on port tack

On starboard tack everything feels great. I feel like I could take both hands of the boom, read a book, pick my nose, no problem.

Port tack is my 'tricky' side, where everything suddenly feels super twitchy and I really, really have to concentrate. On port tack I often find it difficult to get a comfortable solid stance, even though my feet and hand position on the boom is exactly the same for both tacks. Starboard tack is - overwhelming - also my preferred jumping tack on the fin too so I'm guessing I'm left-foot dominant, which may have something to do with it.

My equipment on both sides of the board and sail is set up identically.

Does anyone else have a similar problem? Does it fade with more practice over time?
mr love
mr love
VIC
2424 posts
VIC, 2424 posts
20 Jan 2025 11:43am
Are you goofy footed? As I am the opposite, port tack is really natural, starboard tack always a bit weird, especially wave riding.
aeroegnr
aeroegnr
1778 posts
1778 posts
20 Jan 2025 9:18am
Yeah regular footed I'm better, jibing from port tack is my "good" direction. Starboard jibes not as much.
49 posts
20 Jan 2025 10:27am
Yep. Guess I'm goofy footed. Weird, because I surf regular footed (very badly!).

Glad to know this is not uncommon. It was driving me mad trying to figure out what I was doing wrong!
mr love
mr love
VIC
2424 posts
VIC, 2424 posts
20 Jan 2025 2:03pm
Not sure everybody has the problem but I certainly feel like a gumby when riding swell/waves on starboard tack and its really natural on port tack......left brain bias???
Mr Keen
Mr Keen
QLD
692 posts
QLD, 692 posts
20 Jan 2025 2:21pm
Try sailing switch stance out of gybe on your good side as long as you can. Will change muscle memory.
thedoor
thedoor
2506 posts
2506 posts
21 Jan 2025 11:51am
sounds like a time on water problem to me, I can't remember having a strong preference tack-wise but I wouldn't be surprized if there was some kind of assymetry in my riding stance. In my opinion windfoiling is much more susceptible to slight variation in body weight than the fin and windfoiling is dicey to begin with so I would claim the comfort you have on starboard a success, and expect to see a similar comfort level on port come with time.
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