Ok, I seem to have most of the stages of the gybe working well, it's just this pesky flip that stumps me.
All the gybe technique articles etc go into great detail on the entry, the footwork, the carve, the exit, etc, but when it comes time to flip they just say "now, flip the rig" as if it were so simple.
Biggest problem: the rig wants to throw itself over to windward and take me down with it. I want to get it flipped and up in front of me asap but when I try, it just dives mast first into the water.
Second biggest problem: to counter this I try leaning the mast back a bit, but I end up killing all my speed and turning too far into the wind - thus destroying all the good things I have achieved with my footwork.
Advice, please!
Sounds like you are still flipping the rig too late. The later you flip the rig, the more power is in the rig so try flipping it earlier and earlier you will notice the rig has alot less pull and weight.
wet willy dude, your a worry son. what willl we do with ya and you live in QLD you should be a gybe expert with all those hungry bull sharks running around. son i will lend a hand next time i am up there son. i will show ya how its done my little buddy.
cheers windwarning
When you go to gybe, move your front hand forward all the way to the front of the boom. That way instead of the rig wanting to throwing itself into the water, the power simply helps the sail rotate around the mast.
Some tips that I have taken on and work pretty well in our so called shark infested waters .
Flip early - front hand near the mast just before you flip - look where you want to go (look at end of the boom as you go around before you flip) - go under your leading arm if you can - grab the other side as far back as you can - try not to get into the habit of grabbing the mast - go boom boom - lean forward and sometimes plane away!
As soon as you feel the pressure in the sail start decrease, then its time to let it go. Mostly it is weightless at this moment....I think I mastered it after only about 2000 attempts....
I would also agree, moving the front hand to the front of the boom makes a big difference. You can also grab the mast to allow easy rig flip.
Try to make your gybe about 120 degree turn, rather than a 180 degree turn. In other words; enter the gybe on a broad reach, and exit on a very broad reach. You can pull back into the breeze once you are planing in the new direction.
This way, your sail should feel light on the entry to the gybe, and very light on the exit, thus making the handling of the flip much easier. The primary focus should be on maintaining your speed through the exit.
Thanks, this is excellent advice. So, basically when the rig goes light, I should do my footwork and then flip without delay. I've been pausing after the foot change, letting the board cruise around a little more, then sliding my front hand down to the front end of the boom, and flipping too late...
..at least I'm staying dry most of the time, though!
Ok, I'll go work on it tomorrow if the wind keeps up.
This is coming from someone who can barely do a gybe with a planing entry (let alone a planing exit). But I've seen Guy Cribb's gybing intuition video and this is part of what he says:
You flip the rig with your front hand right at the front of the boom. As you release with your back hand, the front hand pulls the rig across and in front of your body while the back hand reaches underneath the front hand to grab the new side of the boom as far back as you can reach.
It's an awesome video if you're having trouble with gybes - after I watched it I literally went from being able to do 10% of a gybe to about 70% of a gybe in one session.
Rig Flip Practice is a peice of cake - can even do it stationary !
point number 1
Always have your hand as close to boom clamp as possible (unless your doing a cleat first gybe). This way the rig flips quickly and easily without spinning in a big arc.
How to practice:
Stand in knee deep water with the baord and rig by your side.
spin the board and rig around you as you stay stationary, allowing the wind to catch and flip your sail around.
just practice flipping the rig around the mast over and over again.
then play with some cleat first flipping of the rig, then mix it up a bit.
before you know it you will get a really good understanding of how your rig moves and enjoy flipping it around in a funky manner.
once your up on the board and executing a gybe, you wont even think about the rig - it will just happen.
squids (aka noodles)
Anyone know where I can buy/borrow a copy of Guy Cribbs video? i need all the help I can get
I vote for the Guy Cribb video. Well structured and presented instruction on gybing. After watching this video my gybes improved dramatically. I still break it out when I need a refresher.
I also have the Jem Hall video and would recommend the Guy Cribb video instead for gybing.
The Cribb DVD is excellent. Very detailled instruction.
I ordered mine through the "Boards" on-line shop (www.boards.co.uk)
It took 4 days to get here, and from memory, cost about $70 all up. (Cost will depend on the Aus-UK exchange rate).
(Edit: if you do order one from overseas, make sure that it is in PAL format, as distinct from NTSC format) 
Light, patchy wind today spoiled my chances...could barely get planing, let alone seriously practice gybing. Not to worry, there's always next time! Thanks all for your advice. I think I'll get one of those dvds...
You learn something every day! I hadn't come across the tip of moving the front had forward......come to think of it even though I do this I have never thought of it as a step in the process. This alone justifies the many hours I spend on the forum.
There are different ways you can approach the same action, or different ways of thinking about it. One that works for me is that the front hand is always pushing down through the boom / mast....you can't do this unless you're leaning forward. Also my back had is pulling the sail towards the tail of the board.
Or you can think about the "bow and arrow", front arm extended forward, back arm drawing the chord ready to fire.
Keep your speed up, go a bit broader on entry/exit, bend zee kneeeze lean forward with rig, keep trim of board flat and foot movement smooth. Don't look at your gear look where you want to go. Let the back hand go just as you feel it load up, I waited just a sec' on this one just before I flipped rig. And flat water really helps when your learning.
Really nice example Spotty.....
I noticed you do your foot change after the rig flip. I'm wondering if that's easier than switching feet before the flip.
Looking at Spotty's video it would seem that the "flip the rig earlier" is an oversimplification.
There's two separate events to be timed.
1. When do you pick the rig up and move it to a "clew first sailing position"
2. When do you flick the rig.
If Spotty has waited till the rig loads up a little in the clew first position before doing step 2 it could hardly be described as going for an early sail flick.
Doing step 1 early seems to be best though.
WAITAMINUTE!!!!!!!!! 
Wait til the sail loads, then flip???
I thought everyone was saying to wait til it goes light??
Thanks bdl2333, nice flip action (although it's a laydown, more advanced than what I'm trying to do - but in that vid it's hard to see what he does with his feet, and when.
In Spotty's vid, he sheets in on entry (as I do), but very soon after, he presents the whole sail to the wind, loading it up for a half-second before flipping. THAT'S what I don't do - I sheet in, start carving the board around til the sail goes light, then switch feet and try to go for the full flip, with no power in the sail.
Could THIS be the missing link?
Please oh please let there be wind this afternoon!
You don't actually sheet in when you initiate the gybe, you lean the mast forward into the turn - this stalls the sail and makes it feel light. It should still be light when you have completed your foot and hand work; it's only then that the power comes back on and you bring the board back onto a square course.
