Trousers said...

sboardcrazy said...
.Kicked in a bit 15 - 25kt SSW so 95 + 5m..getting most of my gybes! Not brillant but getting around.I used some of the tips..leaned the rif into the turn ,aggressively pulled it back as I flipped & flipped earlier & it worked!

congratulations!! if you are managing the oversheet, kudos! it's one of the hardest parts of technical, elegant gybing.

Any tips on committing forward for a gybe..? any exercises you can do?

concentrate on gettin' them hips forward of you rear foot and over the centreline. knees go over feet, hips go over knees, shoulders go over hips. don't twist your torso until the flip. consider the angle of your feet as you gybe - if you were to lean forward without twisting you should be leaning forward right?

Thats where it would be good to have someone watching & giving advice..I feel like I'm forward but I'm not..Oh well next time I go out I'll concentrate on getting forward for the day. You can only do that when you are really powered up though..? Can you do it when it is marginal..?

Thats Tristan, AUS93 - sails with us at Marmong and lives at Valentine. Nice pic of his tongue hanging out!

sboardcrazy said...
You can only do that when you are really powered up though..? Can you do it when it is marginal..?

yes you can. in fact, it's even more critical with less wind - as you need to keep what little speed you have up. it's not as exaggerated as you'll have less momentum and centrifugal force to lean against, but your hips (and torso) should still be forward of your rear foot, even if only 'just'.

Well The first few sails I was wondering if I'd made the wrong choice buying the board as it spun out so easily & wouldn't go upwind and I couldn't gybe it..
Bought it a new fin a Maui Freemove (?) 24cms & what a difference! Goes upwind great ( I was powered up) no more spin out & I've improved so I got most of my gybes + even pulled off a few good ones..
I went out today at Valentine.It was blowing 25kts occasionally closer 30kts so I was overpowered with the 4.2m in the gusts.I started with the 95ltre because I felt I could gybe it better than the 78ltre & the water is cooling down so I didnt want to fall in as much! Wore myself out in the big chop with the bigger board & finally used the 78 ltre & wow! Way to go..actually cruisy in a straight line much less tiring.I've just got a 3.8m sail which will mean Ill no longer be really overpowered once it hits 30kts so bring it on!!