75
Getting these foundations right hugely increases your success rate.
WARRIOR CARVING Rig Release Sunken 7
& foot change Planing exit
G4a
Whilst maintaining that Warrior stance,
looking and leaning over the flexed rear
knee, the hips shift and drop, the old
front foot slides out of the strap and
switches heel first across the board –
just after the dead downwind / apex of
the gybe. Switch super quickly and right
across to the rail. Whatever you do
DON’T look at your feet.
Pic G4a. Switch that rear foot, by
virtually knocking it out of the way,
immediately stepping forward with the
new front foot.
G5a
Place your new front foot on windward
rail just behind mast base. Keep low
and back.
G6a
The secret is to NOT stand up (very
common). Stay low, through a flexed
rear knee and ankle after the foot
change.
LOOK forward, accentuate the
Very Important Touch Point: Slide the
‘Sunken
7’ and whip the rig forward to
old front hand right up to the boom.
sheet in as soon as possible!
Vision: Look out of that turn, chin STILL
on what has become the front shoulder! Pic 6a. Exit on a broad reach for
maximum speed and control, so feet
Touch Point: New front hand reaches
underneath to grab boom between mast early and rig earlier than your think to
avoid rounding up!
and harness line.
Pic G5a. If it didn’t happen straight away,
shuffle that rear heel close to the rail.
Simple summary:
Practice in the garden, counting through each Touch Points!
1. Clew hand down the boom, gradually! Pulling in towards head, extending mast
arm forward and out of turn.
2. Rear foot toes on rail.
3. Chin on ‘rear’ shoulder look through the turn.
Warrior Stance, pulling down on boom throughout.
Wide ‘Sunken 7’ to release, rotate and sheet in.
A lazy, short step with inboard feet and poor vision kills your gybes!