Naive question from beginner like me but:

Looking today on Kato and Sailquick session I am amazed by results in speeds above 40 knots, but nobody even try to gybe
at winds reaching above 35 knots.

I wonder is somebody could share experience how gybing may looks at extreame winds above 40+ knots?
If that even possible ?

Macro, the run was very broad, so although a gybe may have been possible, sailing back upwind wouldn't have been worth it, too many short tacks up the channel. So the normal routine is stop at the end of your run and walk back up the bank. Stop at the other end and wait for the next gust.

No problems if conditions suit.
I jibe my CA44 speed board above 40 knots no problems but just miss out on staying in the 50 to get a good alpha. I am sailing in weed so using a weed fin and unfortunately they don't allow you to turn as quick as a pointer.
One day If I can stay inside the 50 maybe a PB.
Just have to keep trying.
As far as Sandy Point goes you don't jibe at the end not if its 40 knots.

A few slightly crazy guys sometimes Gybe at the end of the speed run. Not in full on PB conditions though!

But in high 30's to 40 knots it is not too different from normal. There is not much room for you feet to pivot in a CA40 though although you are so broad you don't have to turn more than ninety degrees! It's usually not the best play anyhow as you loose so much distance down wind. Even if you sail back right from the end of the run, one usually stops and relaunches off the bank. Most often we walk at least a couple of hundred meters upwind first

For Alphas, I find it difficult to sink the rail on my IS87 at over 35 knots. Narrower tailed boards are no problem but most do not hold speed through the turn as well. I tried a CA50 for that which was really nice to turn in at ridiculous speeds, but was slow out as it lost too much speed in the turn. I am seeing some potential in my old IS50 speed board as it turns in well at high speed, hold speed ok and is a bit more roomy and stable in the turn than the CA40. That's what I used for my PB 1 hr at Lake George where every gybe was done at over 30 knots.

I may be one of the crazy guys Daffy's talking about. What he said basically ^^.

It depends on the conditions, the board, how confident you feel and where you'll end up at the end of the gybe. Entering a gybe at 40 knots is not problem if the water is flat but if you end up in choppy mess at 35 knots board speed that can be a recipe for disaster. I make about half of these gybes. Ouch. I don't know why but I still do it!

Now gybing on a slightly broad reach at about 35 knots in flat water is a snap in comparison.

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Macroscien said..
Naive question from beginner like me but:

Looking today on Kato and Sailquick session I am amazed by results in speeds above 40 knots, but nobody even try to gybe
at winds reaching above 35 knots.

I wonder is somebody could share experience how gybing may looks at extreame winds above 40+ knots?
If that even possible ?

Bonominator said..
I may be one of the crazy guys Daffy's talking about. What he said basically ^^.

It depends on the conditions, the board, how confident you feel and where you'll end up at the end of the gybe. Entering a gybe at 40 knots is not problem if the water is flat but if you end up in choppy mess at 35 knots board speed that can be a recipe for disaster. I make about half of these gybes. Ouch. I don't know why but I still do it!

Now gybing on a slightly broad reach at about 35 knots in flat water is a snap in comparison.

Tried a few times too.
My issue are
1 At 40+ board speed you have to crank the board over a long way to resist the force that wants to throw off and I really hurts when it goes wrong. Back slap followed by rig into head.

2 If you manage to get it around , the arc is so large that you run into the standing waves just as you de weight the board to flip feet and sail. Fine at 20kt no good at 30+

40kt of wind is different, Oversheet the sail, crank the board aggressively to down wind and hold it there until the board speed drops of a bit, flip rig and sail while continuing the turn. Sail away.

At the Aust Slalom Championships at South Beach in Fremantle 4-5 years ago,we had conditions ranging from 25 knots minimum to close to 40 late in the afternoon. I was mad enough to enter on a 5.0m sail and got blown away in the gybes. South Beach is choppy too.

At Rottnest that day on the graph I saw a 48 knot gust!

Anyway Jesper and Rowan made it look ridiculously easy on the gybes,not falling off a single gybe from memory,though they weren't sailing fast due to the conditions.

Secret is to sheet in very hard as you initiate the gybe----otherwise the sail will catch too much wind 90 degrees into the turn,and you will get over powered.

A lesson learnt that day.