After watching old Dave Wells do planing formula duck jibes on a 10.0, I realized there really are no limits when unlimited talent is applied.
Lucky for the rest of us, limits are applied.
Yes, end of last season, as many as 6, IQ sailors were out, and a couple were duck jibing on what looked like 9's.
However....maybe I'm not 23 years old, 6' tall, fit as a fiddle, and a trust funder to boot.
Oh man you guys are making me feel like a beginner! Okay, then a 4.5 with a 160 boom should be easy then.
I can duck my 5.0 pretty easily and just practice flipping the sail, non planing, and I've tried ducking the IQ 9.0 and that's more skill than I've got at the moment.
Select to expand quoteaeroegnr said..
I can duck my 5.0 pretty easily and just practice flipping the sail, non planing, and I've tried ducking the IQ 9.0 and that's more skill than I've got at the moment.
Okay, thanks, will have to give it a try next time with the 4.5.
Sunset Sailboards was foil ducking his 4.4 by his 30th day....
Not me, though I was ducking by mid 1984 on 85 liter boards.
Select to expand quoteLeeD said..
Sunset Sailboards was foil ducking his 4.4 by his 30th day....
Not me, though I was ducking by mid 1984 on 85 liter boards.
okay, thanks LeeD
Select to expand quoteSandman1221 said..
Oh man you guys are making me feel like a beginner! Okay, then a 4.5 with a 160 boom should be easy then.
4.5 is an ideal size to practice, for me, one of the biggest key points in the duck jibes was to duck early, but tbh I feel like duckjibes are easier than regular jibes anyway.
I have seen some big sail ducked but anything 5.0 or under will be easiest. The shorter the boom the easier the duck
Once you know how Duck Gybes aren't difficult BUT they aren't easier than carving, if they were every elite racer would be Duck Gybing on every gybe mark
Select to expand quote2keen said..
I have seen some big sail ducked but anything 5.0 or under will be easiest. The shorter the boom the easier the duck
Once you know how Duck Gybes aren't difficult BUT they aren't easier than carving, if they were every elite racer would be Duck Gybing on every gybe mark
fwiw, I remember Dorian ducking his RS:X downwind several times in lighter planing conditions during the Olympics. Maybe felt like less chance of coming off a plane? That or he was just flexing. 
Select to expand quoteWhiteofHeart said..Sandman1221 said..
Oh man you guys are making me feel like a beginner! Okay, then a 4.5 with a 160 boom should be easy then.
4.5 is an ideal size to practice, for me, one of the biggest key points in the duck jibes was to duck early, but tbh I feel like duckjibes are easier than regular jibes anyway.
Thanks WoH
Select to expand quote2keen said..
I have seen some big sail ducked but anything 5.0 or under will be easiest. The shorter the boom the easier the duck
Once you know how Duck Gybes aren't difficult BUT they aren't easier than carving, if they were every elite racer would be Duck Gybing on every gybe mark
interesting, will keep that in mind 2keen, thanks
A duck jibe depends on clean water and air.
90% of slalom is done with 7 meter or bigger sails.
Select to expand quote2keen said..
I have seen some big sail ducked but anything 5.0 or under will be easiest. The shorter the boom the easier the duck
Once you know how Duck Gybes aren't difficult BUT they aren't easier than carving, if they were every elite racer would be Duck Gybing on every gybe mark
I meant when using reasonable size sails ofcourse...
Put simply, the reason pro racing does not employ duck jibes is dirty water and air. It's encountered 95% of the time.
And ducks need a prescribed arc, and has trouble negotiating downed sailors or changes of direction during the turn.
That's why racing is different than fast freeride.
