Jibing a 12m sail

[scargo]

The only thing I'd add (not sure if this has been mentioned) is to make sure you really oversheet as you head down. With smaller stuff in high winds you do this to kill the power and keep control, but with a big sail, it's to keep your sail from slamming into the wind in front of you.

As Z said above, if you're going 24 mph in 12-13 wind, and you head downwind, you're suddenly sailing straight into a headwind. So in addition to really sheeting in, you have to get through the downwind/headwind very quickly, all while being careful not to stomp the rails. Of course, easier said than done when you're trying to heave around a huge sail, which is why if you're only marginally powered (i.e., pump to plane), I find it's next to impossible to plane out with good speed. Look for the gusts, and then fight the tendancy to ride them out and instead head into your jibe the minute they hit so as to take advantage before another lull. As you exit, think about getting into pumping position--and then pump a few times--because you can't just take off like on smaller gear.

[scargo]

Oh, and lots of times if I think I'm not going to plane out, I'll opt for a slam jibe. Seems to work fine on bigger stuff, and that way you're not losing distance to windward, which shouldn't be an issue on formula stuff but still can be if you have very little wind and are using a weed fin.

[lrrry]

All,

Appreciate all the good comments....sounds like a planing gybe will be difficult... but I guess I'll keep trying.

Getting 3/4 around is easy... oh well....

[jingebritsen]

that's the most common occurrence. 3/4 round means to me not flipping the sail early enough and no enough MFP. again, once the sail is behind you, the likelihood of planing is nil.

over sheeting a very large sail is typically not my bag. rather, flip the sail early. the less power one has, the more one has to throw the sail around. that's an away and forward combined motion. gotta keep the sail leading one thru the turn.

[scargo]

One more thought. In light wind with big stuff, I'll often do a Spennie (named after a thread from a couple years ago), nothing more than coming out of both straps well before heading into the jibe. The weight being more forward on the board helps maintain the plane. And without the crutch of the forward strap, you're insinctively encouraged to keep your back straight, knees bent, look where you're turning, and the footwork is more delicate. I've had good luck planing out of a Spennie--which works on smaller stuff too--where the traditional jibe wouldn't have worked.

[sailingjoe]

[bred2shred]

Jibing a formual board and full-size formula sail in light wind is very similar to jibing a "regular" board, except your motions need to be more drawn out and precise.

Enter the jibe fully powered and in a puff if possible - this is exactly like a jibe on a traditional board. Speed and power are essential if you want to plane out. Due to the low true windspeed, there will be very little extra sail power available after you start the turn, you'll basically be coasting until you sheet in on the new tack.

One of the most important things is to enter the the jibe from a deep broad reach. You're jibing from broad reach to broad reach rather than from beam reach to beam reach (as you would do on a traditional board). This means you only need to coast through a 90 deg turn rather than a full 180 deg turn. Keep the board relatively flat (i.e. a wide turn rather than a sharp turn). If you crank the board too tight, it will stall. If you turn wide, the extreme width of the formula board will allow you to coast through.

Timing the sail flip is also critical with a lot less margin for error than on a small sail. You need to sail the rig throughout the turn, you can not just crank the board around and flip the rig when you feel like it. If you sheet out too soon, you'll backwind the sail and the board will stop. If you sheet out too late, the sail will get stuck on the "old" tack and when the apparant wind swings behind you, you'll stop.

Also, a step jibe of some sort is more or less required if you want plane thruogh your jibe on a formula board. Going strap to strap is pretty much impossible because of the width of the board.

Nailing jibes on big formula gear takes a lot of practice, but when you finially get it, you'll find that cranking out fully wound planing jibes on flat water in 10mph breeze or less is a lot of fun and very rewarding.

sm

[joethewindsufa]

check out this video
fellow makes jibing/gybing a formula board look like ballet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjkZfIOlh18

[MrFish]

[MrFish]