help with unplaning tight jibes

dcrispin · Joined: 07 Jun 2000 Posts: 13

when I flip the sail in an unplaning jibe, the board wants to begin turning back to its original direction. I have been flipping the sail as the board is pointing directly down wind. should I turn the board more before the flip? any input on a nonplaning jibe is appreciated. Im also bothered by people that answer questions with questions, so skip em. thanks DC

prozac · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 105

check out the videos, Shortboard Sailing Techniques 1 & 2.

2 gets into high speed jibes and has a great trouble shooting section. The main gig is to bend your knees and go into your jibe as fast as you can. If youre afraid to fall you will never master jibes. The faster you go the easier they are. In fact, high speed duck jibes are easier than regular jibes. Get the video. It was made in The Gorge ten years ago and still is the best.

prozac · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 105

unplaning jibe - keep your board pointing down wind until you get enough board speed and rotate your sail. Really, it all depends what length board you are on. My shortest board is an 86. An unplaning jibe to me is when Im pinching to stay up wind on a gusty or light day. I sink the tail and carve my board around as I flip the sail. Then I do the dance to the mast to get my weight off the tail and get the board going by pumping the sail. Too much work for me. Although Id Rather crawl on my board than swim along side it and be shark bait!

artofwindsurfing · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 182

I will respond to a question by an answer for a change.

The board has to complete 3/4 of the turn in order for you to complete the non-planing jibe. You can achive this by sailing clew first until the board has passed the downwind position and is stating to come around.

When you sail clew first, the sail wants to flip but it is not time to let it go yet. Hold it in this position until the board has started to come around ( past downwind ). When the board is about 15 degrees before perpendicular to the wind, it is time to flip the sail.

If you have any other questions, just post another message and Ill be happy to answer on-line or you can reach me at: artofwindsurfing@yahoo.com

Sylvain Pilon, windsurf instructor, Hawaii

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 11491

One slog-jibe sail-flip technique I use is the same technique I use on moderate or high winds:
I spin the sail about its center like a top (by throwing the boom away HARD a millisecond before throwing the mast across my face hard) in the same second I switch both feet simultaneously. This produces the same boom-to-boom jibe I do at speed, leaving the new side of the boom hanging in mid-air waiting for me to grab it and sail or slog away. If Im not planing even when entering the jibe, I jibe the sail just past downwind, throwing it extra hard because it must spin before the wind can carry it away. If Im entering barely planing, Ill perform the same sail- and foot-work but sooner in an atempt to maintain the plane.

Mike \m/

dkr123 · Joined: 05 Jul 1998 Posts: 6

For non-planning jibes, I think the easiest way is to sail clew-first until you are stable (the board is straight and you are moving on the opposite tack) and then jibe the sail.

joeyyyy · Joined: 18 Jul 2000 Posts: 162

make it fun and just turn it into a snap jibe. sail away clew first then flip the sail.