A different way to small board quick tack or fast tack in light winds

Hello beautiful addicts!

An essential element to gain grounds and stay upwind, help underpowered conditions, increase wave count or move count, and because it's just so classy, the FRONT LOOP!!! Oh wait... nevermind, the QUICK TACK!!!

First off, I was planing on creating a how-to describing the various steps and for now thought I'd post 3-4 exemples from my last session, it's not gonna be perfect examples with a low-speed plane and 12 (8?) knot winds but it'll show how I do it in extremely light conditions. So just a reference for now.

On the first one I got a planing entry and wait a bit too long before changing side, so the nose buries a little upon getting power, not a worry but not ideal especially when on a 220cm long board :D !

1. I aim for clean swell (avoid chop and criss-crossing terrain to maximize success).
2. I guide my board with my back foot, move the sail to the back, release weight from front foot and place it right in front and maybe slightly to the other side of the mast foot.
3. We can cross from close-hauled to the other (in the vid, there are some variations), it's easier to switch when closer to the starting reach, the longer we wait, the harder it normally gets).
4. I climb up the swell, and a bit before reaching the peak, still with the sail well back, I step on my front foot and pull hard on the depowered sail
to swap side with the sail basically.
5. Once on the other side I grab the mast and pull the sail rapidly right back in front of me or farther (to steer away from the wind). Grabbing the mast gives me the most sail control and recovery abilities. I try standing perfectly straight after I switch side so that I don't rely on the sail to balance or very little. From there I can sail backwind or regular. The sail is neutral and the board perpendicular to the swell, I find this position to be quite easy to balance.
6. The earlier the more likely we are to backwind sail for a bit.

So let's grab our small board and start off practicing in light winds... Ready?
Set, GO!!! 8) :lol: !!!!