Short board tack?

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nebbian

6277 posts

nebbian

WA, 6277 posts

7 Apr 2006 7:41pm

I'm trying to get the short board tack nutted, had a good look here: ~~http://www.roynbartholdi.com/windsurf/wsmove.htm?p1=03&p2=00&p3=N&p4=S~~ but this is almost a planing tack, certainly a lot quicker than I'm normally going when I want to tack.

Here's what I'm doing:
Normally 5.7 wave sail in 10 knots wind, 104litre board with 80 kg rider (so shlogging slowly, only the tip of the nose is above water)
Rake the sail back and rail into the wind, forward foot is already in front of mast, curl foot around mast to other side, move rear foot up level with forward foot when board is almost pointing at the wind.

Now comes crunch time... I always overbalance to leeward/forward. Do you sort of hug the mast? How do you get to the leeward side of the sail? Do you throw the sail to windward?

I know it's all a question of balance, but can't for the life of me crack this one... any tips?

FilthyAmatuer

877 posts

FilthyAmatuer

WA, 877 posts

7 Apr 2006 8:06pm

you jump around as fast as you can... keep the sail powered as much as possible, it can be backed after u jump around... i could tack my 103 litre board almost all the time (Im 78 kg)... but have yet to tack my 75L board (I dont really ever try... its easier just to gybe) I havent used the big board in a while. Try helitacking in light winds... u will fall off a lot, but u get better at controlling the board and sail. Until u crunch your ankle between the mast and the board and never helitack again.

Waiting4wind

NSW

1871 posts

Waiting4wind

NSW, 1871 posts

8 Apr 2006 9:38am

Some of the newer shorter boards are making tacking more difficult. Even my Fanatic Falcon 111 is challenging as the nose has been made very thin and low in volume so you have to be quick stepping around the front.

Gestalt

QLD

14968 posts

Gestalt

QLD, 14968 posts

8 Apr 2006 9:52am

quote:
Originally posted by nebbian

I'm trying to get the short board tack nutted, had a good look here: ~~http://www.roynbartholdi.com/windsurf/wsmove.htm?p1=03&p2=00&p3=N&p4=S~~ but this is almost a planing tack, certainly a lot quicker than I'm normally going when I want to tack.

Here's what I'm doing:
Normally 5.7 wave sail in 10 knots wind, 104litre board with 80 kg rider (so shlogging slowly, only the tip of the nose is above water)
Rake the sail back and rail into the wind, forward foot is already in front of mast, curl foot around mast to other side, move rear foot up level with forward foot when board is almost pointing at the wind.

you should jump around mast to the other side and move your feet back. don't get stuck standing in front of the mast.

quote:
Now comes crunch time... I always overbalance to leeward/forward. Do you sort of hug the mast? How do you get to the leeward side of the sail? Do you throw the sail to windward?

once around hang off boom guy cribb style and move your weight onto your back foot. plus pull your back foot under your bum to help get everything going off the wind again.

quote:
I know it's all a question of balance, but can't for the life of me crack this one... any tips?

i find when tacking my 95lt fish that the one thing that always happens is the nose sinking. once you have changed sides you need to push down with you new back foot. this keeps the nose up and stops the submarine action. another thing you can do is try steering your board with your back foot while slogging. ie. pulling it under your bum and pushing it away. plus your feet need to be on the centreline of the board and not out on the rail

NotWal

QLD

7436 posts

NotWal

QLD, 7436 posts

8 Apr 2006 1:58pm

Heaps of practice. Keep your feet on the centreline. Dry land practice helps.

nebbian

6277 posts

nebbian

WA, 6277 posts

10 Apr 2006 5:12pm

Thanks for the advice guys, I practiced it all today's session, and have the following to report:
I did one!! YEEHAA!! This was almost at the end of the session, and I couldn't replicate it, but now I know it's possible.

The key seems to be keeping the feet near the centerline, and getting the old forward foot back down the board once you get around the sail. Also I had real trouble keeping the sail up and out of the water, so many times I'd get the board around but only by hanging onto the uphaul rope as it dragged in the drink. With another couple of sessions I'll have it sorted.

Practice is the other key

Combs

152 posts

Combs

WA, 152 posts

13 Apr 2006 5:39pm

A friend of mine had one invaluable piece of advice for tacking: As you are comming into the tack, slide your front hand right up to the mast. Suddenly it worked!

I think this might have something to do with being able to give yourself room between you and the boom as you go round. That way you are not leaning and falling forward.

rustle

QLD

279 posts

rustle

QLD, 279 posts

14 Apr 2006 7:34am

I need to spend more time on these but I found that a little snap/pull on the mast to send you on your way helps speed up the move around the mast.

oldie

VIC

356 posts

oldie

VIC, 356 posts

15 Apr 2006 3:02am

Dry land practice was the answer to get me tacking in any wind/current combination. Got the board without a fin balanced fore and aft with a post lying under it and then worked on timing a backwards/forwards movement of the mast with the trip around the mast without rocking the boat. You got one second to complete the exercise or you lose the inertia of the rig. On the water then progress to carrying more speed into the tack and backwinding the sail slightly to bring you around.

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Short board tack?

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