To Tack or not to Tack?

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> 10 years ago

General Gps & Speed Waves Foiling Gear Reviews Lost & Found WA NSW QLD SA VIC TAS

Macroscien

QLD

6809 posts

Macroscien

QLD, 6809 posts

7 May 2012 7:19pm

Since I learned gybing and boards are getting smaller I almost completely forgot and lost tacking ability.
How essential is this skill or we could live without?

swoosh

QLD

1929 posts

swoosh

QLD, 1929 posts

7 May 2012 7:59pm

lots of people seem to do fine without being able to tack... depends on what kinda sailing you do.

i think it's pretty important if you mainly sail waves or freestyle, it means less time spent sailing upwind.

Mark _australia

23647 posts

Mark _australia

WA, 23647 posts

7 May 2012 6:25pm

Nah I wavesail and have never been able to tack. Have no desire to learn, all the falling in will mean missed waves

You don't end up that far downwind if you just stomp on the tail and screw it around on the spot (as long as it is windy enough to not need to bear away to plane again)

NordRoi

671 posts

NordRoi

671 posts

7 May 2012 8:09pm

It is a good tool to have in your bag for sure!! On a shortboard, you will need the help of backwind your sail to keep you up at the beg, so trust the force....

Macroscien said...

Since I learned gybing and boards are getting smaller I almost completely forgot and lost tacking ability.
How essential is this skill or we could live without?

Macroscien

QLD

6809 posts

Macroscien

QLD, 6809 posts

7 May 2012 11:05pm

I found tacking on short board quite difficult so every time I need to consider:
if better is to loose a few meters on quick jibe
or
risk water starting after failed tack and loose even more in our strong current ( up to 8km/h).
But I do admire those that could perform nice tack in wavy or surf conditions

Mark _australia

23647 posts

Mark _australia

WA, 23647 posts

7 May 2012 9:18pm

Agreed Macro.
I find losing 5m downwind on a gybe is of no consequence if I get 50m upwind on a reach and that is enough to be back upwind of the right spot for the next wave.
As much as redthumbs disagree (?)

You are talking about essential and I don't think it is essential.
I still wish I could tack well, but can't be bothered learning as I've never felt I have to

robbo1111

NSW

654 posts

robbo1111

NSW, 654 posts

8 May 2012 8:44am

a fast shortboard tack is a thing of beauty, unfortunately I can still only do them on one tack. You can live without the skill but I must admit at places like Hookipa you feel like a bit of a dill gybing on the inside when everyone else is tacking close to the rocks

K Dog

VIC

1847 posts

K Dog

VIC, 1847 posts

8 May 2012 10:43am

What about clew first water starts? Get away with not having them sorted?

sboardcrazy

NSW

8333 posts

sboardcrazy

NSW, 8333 posts

8 May 2012 1:17pm

K Dog said...

What about clew first water starts? Get away with not having them sorted?

They're helpful as quicker starts..I used to be able to do them but haven't since I got back into it 2 seasons ago..They'd be helpful in the surf as you'd spend less time sitting in the water waiting to get munched..

gazza

647 posts

gazza

WA, 647 posts

8 May 2012 3:52pm

K Dog said...

What about clew first water starts? Get away with not having them sorted?

Awesome time saver. Not hard to learn and feels great if you pull it off
Right in front of a hell set and can continue on your way out of trouble.
Even when out the back I still waterstart clew first

Mark _australia

23647 posts

Mark _australia

WA, 23647 posts

8 May 2012 6:25pm

^^^ +1 not essential to learn but after you do the first one under the shadow of a big rinse coming you may think they are bloody useful

Squid Lips

708 posts

Squid Lips

WA, 708 posts

8 May 2012 9:25pm

Mark _australia said...

^^^ +1 not essential to learn but after you do the first one under the shadow of a big rinse coming you may think they are bloody useful

Also useful when you drop a gybe out the back and kick ~~a shark~~ some seaweed

jsnfok

899 posts

jsnfok

WA, 899 posts

9 May 2012 1:06am

Not being funny here but have always found heli tacks easier to do on a short board in light winds, I sink the front down if I'm not planing

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