I am trying to master the fast short board tack. 100l board 6m sail.

I've got the the foot wrapped close around the mast foot. I jump around the other side and usually fall over the nose or sink the front.

Anyone got an amazing tip that helped them conquer the tack?

Do you grab the mast or boom?

Do you back wind the sail?

it helps if your planing, or at least moving forward, if not, may sound funny but heli tacks are easier to do then a non planing tack

This helped me

Check out the footage from about 1.07 to 1.15 on this video. There is a good example of a fast tack.

I think the key on small gear is to get the sail on the right angle once you get round the other side to power up and hold you up, then use that power to turn the board and finish off the turn.
Recently started sailing a long board in < 12knts and the tack practice on that has helped my short board tacks heaps.

Been sailing 25 years and never pulled off a tack. They feel so unnatural compared to gybing. Bigger board,smaller sail should make them easier.

Hey Yuppy,

I'm no master of anything, but I can tack "ok". The best thing I've found is keep your body weight over the centre of the board at all times. And keep it near verticle. So the whole time you're shooting around the front your weight is over the mast track. Here's a short clip I took the other day, she's a little dodgy but shows the feet getting ready for the tack as you plan up-wind, then the quick step around the other side whist still planning. I put a tad too much weight on the nose (hence the nose sinking) as I took slightly too long to get around, but got away clean and planned off nicely. I'm working on doing them faster, (ideally in one jump!) but one battle at a time... Hope this helps a tad.

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PhilSWR said...
Hey Yuppy,

I'm no master of anything, but I can tack "ok". The best thing I've found is keep your body weight over the centre of the board at all times. And keep it near verticle. So the whole time you're shooting around the front your weight is over the mast track. Here's a short clip I took the other day, she's a little dodgy but shows the feet getting ready for the tack as you plan up-wind, then the quick step around the other side whist still planning. I put a tad too much weight on the nose (hence the nose sinking) as I took slightly too long to get around, but got away clean and planned off nicely. I'm working on doing them faster, (ideally in one jump!) but one battle at a time... Hope this helps a tad.

That's bull**** Phil. You fell in and edited yourself standing on opposite tack

I recently got shown a technique to fast tack a planing RSX and I think it would work well on a short board as well.

1. Prepare: Take feet out of straps, rake sail back and steer to windward

2. Luffed up: Front foot in front of mast, knees bent, body low and close to sail move to rig back to upright position.

3.Tack: grab the mast with your back hand below the boom, that's the important bit, grab it with your back hand, this is what makes it fast as you change sides you seem to automatically pull the rig to the leeward side of your body and the new tack, your feet change very fast as they follow your body, your back foot (now your front foot) is now in front of the mast and bearing the board away.

4. New tack: Next important bit it to grab the boom on your new tack and fully commit your weight to it "balancing on the board is much harder than balancing off the rig". I was told that even if you fall backwards into the water with the rig over you in the beginning its ok as you are in the water start position anyway and soon you will get used doing it and wont fall in backwards

We ran through it on land a few times in slow motion then went onto the water, it is really easy on the rsx but that's a wide stable board. Reason I think it may be good on a short board is the speed of the tack, much faster than I used to and far less time in that luffed up position trying to balance on the board. After a day of thinking and doing it I now do it automatically and it works well on the formula as well.

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gregob said..

That's bull**** Phil. You fell in and edited yourself standing on opposite tack

No fooling you Greg

PS- Hurry up and get back down here for a sail.

Cheers

Guy Cribb PDF's you may have to register ( enter your email to see them..) heaps of great tips on practically everything!
www.guycribb.com/windsurfing_technique_holiday0065v01.aspx?awvariantid=1
Tacking is in there..
I need to start teaching myself but I don't want to fall in!

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sboardcrazy said..

Guy Cribb PDF's you may have to register ( enter your email to see them..) heaps of great tips on practically everything!
www.guycribb.com/windsurfing_technique_holiday0065v01.aspx?awvariantid=1
Tacking is in there..
I need to start teaching myself but I don't want to fall in!

he he. Jem says on his light wind freestyle primer "The first thing to do is jump in and get wet".

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cammd said..

...

3.Tack: grab the mast with your back hand below the boom, that's the important bit, grab it with your back hand, this is what makes it fast as you change sides you seem to automatically pull the rig to the leeward side of your body and the new tack, your feet change very fast as they follow your body, your back foot (now your front foot) is now in front of the mast and bearing the board away.

...

I shall try that back hand grab.

I find it helps to look upwind before stepping and then as you step around try to turn your head to look at the same place. Body just seems to follow your head (sometimes )

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NotWal said..

sboardcrazy said..

Guy Cribb PDF's you may have to register ( enter your email to see them..) heaps of great tips on practically everything!
www.guycribb.com/windsurfing_technique_holiday0065v01.aspx?awvariantid=1
Tacking is in there..
I need to start teaching myself but I don't want to fall in!

he he. Jem says on his light wind freestyle primer "The first thing to do is jump in and get wet".

I know....I've just spent 2 seasons trying to get my gybes going - still not brilliant but it's so nice to not fall in at every turn..bummer I'll have to go back to beginnersville again..

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cammd said..
3.Tack: grab the mast with your back hand below the boom, that's the important bit, grab it with your back hand, this is what makes it fast as you change sides you seem to automatically pull the rig to the leeward side of your body and the new tack, your feet change very fast as they follow your body, your back foot (now your front foot) is now in front of the mast and bearing the board away.

This is a great idea and I have never considered doing it that way, but I can certainly see how it works. Looking forward to giving that a try when I am next out on the board as I have always found my short board tacks rather hit and miss

1. Move around mast much earlier than the think you should, before you completely drop of the plane
2. Keep low by bending your knees and keep mast away from you by keeping arms as straight as possible ( when moving around mast)

I'm certainly no expert but the signal to initiate the tack will be when the bottom of the sail hits your shin on the back leg, then jump to the other side.

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[b] The best thing I've found is keep your body weight over the centre of the board at all times.

Thanks Phil

This really resonates with me. Kind of obvious. If I keep my weight centered I won't fall in. This will make me keep the rig away from me when I switch sides.

If I couple this with the back hand on the mast tip I might have a winner.

I'm heading out tomorrow and will let you all know if these two tips work.

Thanks all

Cam

Great tip.

I went out today and actually did a few successful tacks with cam's tip.

Back hand grabs the mast. It works

The technique is courtesy Maks Wojik POL-7 (current raceboard world champ) He's been giving up his Saturday mornings to come and coach the youth sailing RSX and Techno here in Brisbane