Tacking - stepping around the front

I swim.

got a friend who sails off-shore tacks in the lightest to heaviest of winds in a split-second with no difficulties even on a sinker but can't carve gybeat all

Step. But wanna jump, does this work ok?

But since tried holding the mast on the way around have been falling

Same here

Step. I decided long time ago that jumping that move was not gonna be for me, after a few tries. I can't even jump the tack on a longboard, so no point to keep trying on a shortie.

Port tack I sort of wrap around. Starboard tack not quite a step, not quite a jump ... more of a sink.

I agree. Sometimes I jump and sometimes I step, but it's not planned. I just "go" and afterwards I find out what I did. This is true on bigger boards, all the way down to my 77 liter, which I occasionally tack.

Years ago a good instructor told me that tacking is like a twitch. It's one instant.

"He who hesitates is lost." Definately!

I do a three step.
Take Front foot around the other side of the mast pointing 45 degrees. Any tighter than that and you are a contorsionist.
Bring back foot up to base of mast so your back is to the nose of the board and both feet are pointing down the board.
DO NOT DROP THE CLEW OF THE SAIL IN THE WATER AS IT IS ALL OVER RED ROVER
Step down the board, rotate body and away we go.

Have tacked for years but just starting to gybe. I think I got them around the wrong way.

i think jumping is easier because it gives you the snap to move quickly. As was mentioned the key seems to be not to freeze in the wrong position, and jumping or hopping seems to help with this-as does cariving right into the wind and more.

Cheers, jens

I tried to tack my Hypervomit and stepped off the nose completely into knee deep water .Then the mast cracked me on the top of my scone.Saw stars for a bit
No nose on those damn fangled machines

What is this thing tack you speak of!