Thanks for your comment. One of the awesome things that I noticed as I practiced this technique is that you can keep your eyes forward throughout so that you avoid overtacking and can observe breeze coming (get ready to hike) or other boats nearby. It will become very natural no matter how odd the movements appear at first.
Regarding the two boards down topic, I’m fascinated by this and would love to delve further into it.
I thought that I had fouled someone (I actually may not have, but that’s another topic.). I was running on a starboard tack so I put only my starboard board down and jibed to port and turned counterclockwise. All good until I reached head to wind. Then, absent the port board, my tack stalled and I couldn’t finish the turn back to starboard and went into irons. 4-5 boats passed me. After the race, I practiced both two board and single board turns and I could execute very fast, fluid turns repeatedly with both boards, but struggled with one board.
1) I may just need to practice with one board more often to perfect it.
2) My turns are so fast with two boards, that I’m not sure that I gain much.
Thoughts?
As another point of view, I like my mainsheet cleat as a third hand. The key issue is that you should always have your hand on the sheet to feel the sail and constantly be able to tune the shape for speed and/or power. If you can manage that without cleating inappropriately, then I see no problem with having it. Getting rid of the cleat or taping it is an assist if you don’t have the discipline.
Awesome video!!! Thanks Henry and Al! I think that this is really helpful for me. I noticed how Henry’s body weight shift to high side and trim motion was definitive and timed to amplify each other to drive the boat forward to finish the tack. I’ll have to get out and practice this.
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Good one.
Excellent point! I’ll add it to the diagram.
Welcome Klaus! Deutsch is certainly welcome! Happy to have you share any sailing tips that you have. -Rob
Thanks for your comment. One of the awesome things that I noticed as I practiced this technique is that you can keep your eyes forward throughout so that you avoid overtacking and can observe breeze coming (get ready to hike) or other boats nearby. It will become very natural no matter how odd the movements appear at first.
Regarding the two boards down topic, I’m fascinated by this and would love to delve further into it.
I thought that I had fouled someone (I actually may not have, but that’s another topic.). I was running on a starboard tack so I put only my starboard board down and jibed to port and turned counterclockwise. All good until I reached head to wind. Then, absent the port board, my tack stalled and I couldn’t finish the turn back to starboard and went into irons. 4-5 boats passed me. After the race, I practiced both two board and single board turns and I could execute very fast, fluid turns repeatedly with both boards, but struggled with one board.
1) I may just need to practice with one board more often to perfect it.
2) My turns are so fast with two boards, that I’m not sure that I gain much.
Thoughts?
As another point of view, I like my mainsheet cleat as a third hand. The key issue is that you should always have your hand on the sheet to feel the sail and constantly be able to tune the shape for speed and/or power. If you can manage that without cleating inappropriately, then I see no problem with having it. Getting rid of the cleat or taping it is an assist if you don’t have the discipline.
This is an incredibly informative article on a high impact topic.
I’d love to have tips on how to best use the SHIFT in a race and during practice.
Congratulations to Ron Baerwitz who won the October 2017 T-Shirt! Thanks for your content.
Awesome video!!! Thanks Henry and Al! I think that this is really helpful for me. I noticed how Henry’s body weight shift to high side and trim motion was definitive and timed to amplify each other to drive the boat forward to finish the tack. I’ll have to get out and practice this.