77
Classic tack After sailing and looking upwind, the head
turns and the clew is pulled over the tail. The board is
turned right through the wind before moving the feet.
Once on the new side and through the wind, the rig is
twisted forward and sheeted in (rig forward – body back)
to turn the board downwind and sail away. Great in light
winds, on big boards, but becomes very difficult on
lower volume sticks as we’ve just illustrated. exaggerated forward facing Warrior stance. Wait a
second, before PUSHING the clew hand back, down
and away from you to pass the clew over the tail. Think
body forward – rig back the opposite to a Classic tack
ending). You’ll be far more balanced and find you can
turn downwind by pushing away on the clew/rear hand
rather than pulling the rig forward which is what
normally results in walking the plank off the front.
Windwise Warrior tack So, sail upwind but don’t
worry about trying to go ‘right through the wind’. Before
the board slows down completely or starts to get that
horrible wobble in no man’s land – make your move
across to the other-side of the board. To create space
on the new side and avoid being back-winded, force
the mast/rig low, back and towards the tail. Then, and
don’t be tempted to bring the mast forward, keep it
BACK, clew almost in the water, and adopt an Short Board Warrior tack Ramped up and planing,
note how the clew is not pulled over the tail on entry.
This keeps momentum, stability and actually makes it
easier to move the sail. It is vital to resist pulling the
mast forward mid tack and exit. Rake it back and low
towards the tail as the body accentuates Warrior to
push OUT on the rear hand, which actually raises the
mast to sail away.
uk
WIND
SURFING