Three Tricks in One

Oct 20, 2008

Author: Andy Brandt

Students often ask to learn a trick that looks hard but is easy to do. A great place to start is with a cool-looking move that will lead to more tricks in the future: the clew-first Nose Sink Tack. Depending on either point of sail or type of entry method, this move can be turned into at least three other tricks that I’ll talk about later.
    This move, like most, is easier to learn in light wind with a big board and small sail. While sailing clew-first, turn the board into the wind by raking the sail toward the back of the board. Stagger your feet around the mast, staying on the centreline as you approach the eye of the wind. Once the board has reached the wind’s eye, begin a normal sail flip by leveling the clew to windward with the clew hand. Next, slide your mast hand up to the boom head for the flip. The closer this hand is to the mast, the tighter the sail rotates for less swing weight. Now release your clew hand, letting the sail flip, and simultaneously lock your mast arm and shoulder to keep the sail upright. Don’t complete the sail flip by grabbing the new boom, but instead step around the mast base, allowing your body to follow the flipping sail to the new side. Look forward towards the board’s nose as you re-grab the same side of the boom with the back hand and sail away the new direction. In order to add the nose-sink part of the tack, take a larger step out onto the board’s nose and hold the clew for a second during the flip to kick the tail out in the new direction.
    Performing this same manoeuvre on an upwind reach will get you sailing backwinded or on the leeward side of your sail rather than completing a tack like the previous version. Changing the direction slightly gives you a brand-new trick. Next, try throwing it in mid–Helicopter Tack by following the clew to the leeward side instead of just flipping the sail. This will put you back on the leeward side, where you can perform another heli exit for the final completion of a Double Helicopter Tack. Finally, after a planing jibe entry and foot switch, try flipping the sail and chasing it around like before. Immediately add a Helicopter Tack exit, and you will complete your first Reverse Monkey Jibe.

Go to abkboardsports.com to attend a clinic by owner-instructor Andy Brandt.

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