i met royn last year in WA hes an awesome sailor, he started at 32 now older and was tryin doubles!! runs an online company and goes nonstop between, maui, gorge, mexico!! he decided to come to aus so he could learn stuff on the other tack?? insane! the most motivated windsurfer ive ever met..
i meant a tack gets u on the new direction faster than a gybe, a tack is easier than a gybe, its just nobody puts the time into learning them, there are less steps, more margin for error.. perhaps gybes are the default transition is cause there is a tech article in every mag about gybes, perhaps the mags know this and promote the gybe so we all buy more tech mags cause they are so hard!
1 - carve HARD upwind, rake sail back as far as u can, then rake it further!!!,
2 - once almost into the wind, step front foot to the mastbase (get a toe protector if u dont have one) bent front leg, straight back leg....and move front hand to the front of the boom.
3 - when ya goin straight into wind (if u still have speed buy now your laughing) take ONE step to the front of the board, cross your back hand to the new side, and ... get your feet into the 3rd postion around the mastbase, (bare with me here) and hold this for zero seconds
4- take new back foot and step to the front of the back strap, move hands into a wide grip!! straighten front leg and arm, (leave front foot @ the mast) bend back leg and pull, push with front leg.. straighten front arm and sheet in all the way... and never look at your feet or hands, always look in the direction your goin. if u jump to new side to quickly then u will have to do some backwind sailing, which some find better and more stable...
wrap front foot around mastbase, and there will be room for next foot to rest its heel in the arch...
just read what i wrote, sounds long and complicated, but not enough to fill 25 years on windsurf mags
