For about 6 months I have been trying to smooth out my tacks using the conventional method. Head to wind, front hand on mast, back hand crosses over to other side of boom, but it never feels particularly smooth and half the time I end up backwinded and having a swim.
I went back to my original method, head to wind, front hand reaches over and as far back on the other side of the boom you can reach then foot change. Half way round you have both hands on the boom but on different sides of the sail.
I found this much better, the sail seems to just end up forward and in a good position to drive the nose off the wind and because you are not fiddling with changing your hands half way round you can concentrate just on your footwork.
Does anyone else use this method or is it just me? Any comments?
That's the worst method because you're non-committed to either tack when you're straddling the mast, and you're also going to spend too much time over the nose of the board.
There is nothing wrong with being backwinded after stepping round the mast, just push out with the sail over the tail and bring the nose around with your feet.
Learn the footwork on the beach, and memorise teh hand pass. And when you're on the water don't forget which way the wind is coming from.
If you find yourself in this position, you're doing it wrong.
People who can tack properly normally stop gybing. It's far superior and worth learning.
lol Barn thats the best depiction of an Ezzy sailor ever.. is that the 2013 sail? looks like the 2005 model..
As a proud Ezzy sailor I'd just like to say - "we'll done Barn, that's your best drawing yet". Gold star from me.
I like that the leg on the other side of the sail is drawn in a lighter colour, like you are looking at it through the x-ply. It's those kinda small details which really make the drawing for me.
Can anyone spot the similarities, except the same face expressions.
Something just not right about male poledancers in hot pink budgie smugglers..
Merry Xmas
OK OK it looks like it is just me. Watched a video kindly supplied by Johnny, I think I may be mucking around too much in front of the mast loosing speed and stalling. I am going to try keeping my eye on where I am going and not on the mast. Should help with keeping the board going in the right direction.