TACK … EVERY TIME.

It’s simple enough on day one and painfully elusive as you take it onto smaller boards and into pressurised situations. Here in the first part of a two-part examination, Harty reveals the right methods to nailing your tacks.

- Peter Hart

The illusion of calm when doing a tack, even over a sinking platform, comes from adhering to windsurfing’s basics – leading with the head, keeping the rig away and … going for it! Harty actually not caring if he does fall into Tobago’s tepid bath.

“My name is Brian. I’ve been windsurfing for 30 years and … (pause to sob) … I can’t tack.” (Ripple of applause from the assembled self-help group, pats on the back and murmurs of ‘well done, very brave …’)

“Thank you thank … you. Well I can tack … sort of … on a barge … in light winds.” Continues Brian through the tears. “But it’s rubbish. And as soon as I try it on a smaller board in any sort of chop … well I might as well just jump in and save myself the bother…” “Bravo Brian.” Says the chief counsellor. “Now you’ve finally admitted you have a problem, you’ve made the first and most important step.”

FAILURE TO TACK – UNDERLYING ISSUES

Firstly, if you are a non-small board tacker, don’t feel alone. There are hordes of Brians out there. It’s neither a blight on your character nor a reflection of some innate technical ineptitude. The tack is a bit special and poses unusual psychological and technical challenges.

Expectation and Pride

You expect to be able to do it. Crashing out carve gybes in search of glory is totally acceptable. But serial plopping while attempting tacks? It’s humiliating. I’m not suggesting that certain ‘Windies’ are proud egomaniacs, but there is a threat to status that persuades many to throw in the towel early.

Bad start