Tacking Victory
Are you struggling to tack lower volume boards? Do you want to stay dry on that Dyno? Simon Bornhoft explains how to break the curse of failing to tack in strong winds on smaller boards.
Our Windwise ‘Warrior Tack’ has been proven to solve the ‘How do I tack a short board’ issue, but it will also create a core skill that dovetails into so many other aspects of the sport. All of which will help you get the very best out of your sessions on the water and enjoy your Dyno too.
Tack Less “Why You Might Be Struggling To Tack Small Boards?”
The ‘Classic Tack’, which most people first learn on a high volume board, is where you rake the sail back over the tail and try to pass through the eye of the wind, then ‘go round the mast’ before throwing the rig forward and hope you’re still on the board. This is fine on a big board that allows slow shuffling feet, but in difficult conditions, especially on lower volume kit, there’s far greater instability, less margin for poor foot placement and a very common tendency to topple forward with the rig. So here’s how to tame that tack.
The Windwise ‘Warrior’ Making Moves Happen
The Windwise ‘WARRIOR’ “Making Moves Happen”
Welcome to our Windwise ‘Warrior’ ethos, which is not only stunningly effective in taming those tacks, but also simultaneously develops core skills that link into gybing, wave riding and any aspirations you might have for feasible freestyle.
- LOOK with your chin on or over your leading shoulder to exaggerate VISION!
- LEAN over a heavily flexed knee! (Foot points forwards if out of the strap).
- LEVER your rig the ‘Opposite’ way to your body to counter balance.
Warrior Video Training
WINDWISE WARRIOR TACK
Here’s how to use Warrior to secure your tacks on any volume board.
Initial Set Up
Vision: Momentarily look upwind, keeping your head and shoulders up.
Opposition: Prepare to just drop the sail back towards the tail.
Go Early!
Vision: Head turns early, chin on rear shoulder and keep it there throughout the whole move!
Touch Points: Front hand up to boom clamp. Foot wraps right around the mast base.
Opposition: BEFORE the board passes through the eye of the wind, make your move (note the sail isn’t pulled right over the tail… yet). “Don’t think of going ‘round the mast’ or ‘pulling it forwards’. PUSH the mast across your body and towards the tail to create space and opposition.”
Warrior Exit “Turning Downwind With The Rig Back”
You might not be completely through the eye of the wind, you could still be marginally ‘Front to Sail’, but that doesn’t matter, in fact GREAT! Accentuate your WARRIOR ethos NOW. Force the rig low and back, (yes back) and push AWAY on the clew hand, to force the clew over the tail, which will turn the board downwind and effortlessly elevate the mast into your hands to sail away, dry!
Check out the overview Warrior Tack Technique Video.
Windwise Touch Points & Land Drill
What you ‘feel’ is very important, so practice these key Windwise Touch Points at home in the garden or on the beach, before you head out.
Set Up
As you head upwind…
TP 1: Front hand ‘feels’ the boom clamp.
TP 2: Front foot ‘feels’ the mast base protector as it wraps fully around.
TP 3: Turn your head early and ‘feel’ your chin on the REAR shoulder. KEEP IT THERE!
Shift & Switch Footwork + Opposition
The head (chin over the shoulder), leads first, the feet and hands then move together. Quickly knock the old front foot out of the way, as you PUSH and lever the mast/rig towards the tail to oppose.
Warrior Exit & Touch Point Re-Check
TP 1: Front hand transfers to the new side, feeling the boom clamp.
TP 2: New Front foot faces forward, replacing the old front foot wrapped around the mast base. The new back foot takes a big step back down the board.
TP 3. The head, with chin on the same shoulder, has now become the new front shoulder. It’s imperative to keeping looking forward in WARRIOR. Push out with the rear hand to turn the board downwind and sail away.
Ask A Question
We hope this really helps your tacks for when you next get back out on the water. Let us know how it goes? Any other technique or Dyno questions you can ask Simon at info@windwise.net.
Warrior World
If you look at these shots, you’ll see how our ‘Warrior’ ethos ‘Look’ + ‘Lean’ over a heavily flexed knee with the chin on or over the leading shoulder, links into other areas of the sport.
Beginners to pro’s….“Be more Warrior!”
Join A Windwise Session
Want to make your moves, develop you Warrior Tacks, Gybes and jump on some Severne kit? Come and join a future Windwise experience for all levels and aspirations – www.windwise.net.
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