Nose Tack

Having a variety of tacks and jibes in your repertoire releases the inherent aesthetics of windsurfing, void of repetition and confinement. So if you only have a couple of transitions and a couple of tricks up your sleeve and have been relentlessly boring your friends for 5 years with your mastery then a few new ones might challenge you and bring a few cheers from the beach. So, throw in a Nose-Tack once in a while. The premise of the Nose-Tack is to divide the tack into two parts: First rotate the board and then rotate the sail. The difficult aspect of this maneuver is learning to balance the rig while you're stepping on the nose of board and then controlling the sail when you are clew first to the wind.
Step 1 instruction for Nose Tack
Step 2 instruction for Nose Tack
Step 3 instruction for Nose Tack
Step 4 instruction for Nose Tack
Step 5 instruction for Nose Tack
Step 6 instruction for Nose Tack
Step 7 instruction for Nose Tack
Step 8 instruction for Nose Tack
Step 9 instruction for Nose Tack
Step 10 instruction for Nose Tack
Step 11 instruction for Nose Tack
Step 12 instruction for Nose Tack
Step 13 instruction for Nose Tack
Step 14 instruction for Nose Tack
Step 15 instruction for Nose Tack
Step 16 instruction for Nose Tack
Step 17 instruction for Nose Tack
Step 18 instruction for Nose Tack
Step 19 instruction for Nose Tack
Step 20 instruction for Nose Tack
Mouse Over Image to Pause
Rider: Royn Bartholdi

Steps

Tips for step 1)   Unhook, get out of the foot straps and rake the sail back so the nose of the boards goes windward.
Tips for step 2)  Step the windward foot in front of the mast as the nose of the board approaches the eye of the wind. Be sure to step across the centerline and on the leeward side of the board. You may have to step more toward the nose than this picture indicates.
Tips for step 3)  When the nose is pointing in the other direction then weight your front foot.
Tips for step 4)  Now step the rear foot onto the front of the board causing the nose to sink and the tail to lift out of the water and begin to slide backward.
Tips for step 5)  While using the nose as a pivot, guide the tail around and windward. Step the rear foot behind the mast, which will bring the tail down, as the clew swings toward the eye of the wind. In other words, just walk the board around with your feet.
Tips for step 6)  Weight the new rear foot so the tail submerges into the water and the board becomes balanced. Keep your arms extended so you can stand upright and in the clew-first sailing position.
Tips for step 7)  Force the board to a beam reach by pushing with your front foot. Step both feet behind the mast and stabilize the board and sail.
Tips for step 8)  Rotate the sail, Adjust the feet, trim, and sail away.

Ideas

  • Try different sail variations.
  • Duck the sail at the end instead of a rotation.
All Contents Copyright © 2008-2025 Royn Bartholdi. All Rights Reserved