Move On Up

THE DUCK GYBE

This month I urge you to get into and improve the duck gybe as it feels great, looks cool and is another fantastic milestone in our sport. It is also simpler, in some ways, than the carve gybe and will actually help you improve these too. It may actually yield your first planing exit in a gybe!

- Jem Hall

LEARNING If you are making a good amount of carve gybes, between 30-50%, and have the ability to scissor the board downwind and get the sail light under control, then you are so ready to try some duck gybes. A lot of the component parts can be learnt in light winds, just as for the carve gybe.

It is best to do the moves I suggest on a big board, like a higher volume freemove board, or a beginner board and even better on a windSUP as they track better and give you more time to steer. Here are some drills to work on:

Clew first (CF) beach start into a gybe: The CF beach start is a great skill builder for both your water starts and gybes so get it in your armoury. After completing your CF beach start, sail out off the wind and steer downwind, through rig and feet, and then as you get to the run (dead downwind) start to look to the new direction and change your feet as you subtly sheet the sail in. It will feel more natural than you think and you will begin to anticipate the point at which the foot change feels right.

Sailing switch: Sail along a touch off the wind and pull down on your front hand as you open the sail slightly. Now twist your front foot back to be in front of your back foot and then step forward with your old back foot and hey presto you will now be sailing switch. Focus on front foot pressure, with your hips out and lots of ‘down’ force on the front foot. Then switch back and do it a few more times, and, of course, in both directions.