Why is the Planing Jibe the difference between beg and exp?

NOVAAN · Joined: 28 Sep 1994 Posts: 1549

A planing jibe is a bench mark for sorts. Its a indication of skill, effort to improve and determination. That and the right wind and water conditions plus the proper equipment to make it happen. If a person only gets to sail in 10 to 15 mph winds he might never learn to hit the bench mark. But he could be an expert at his local spot doing lots of fun lite wind moves. back wind sailing sailing, heli tacks etc. Things that I use to do but seem to have loss the skill. Mostly because I haven't tried in years. I do plane out of a lot jibes wind permitting. Tomorrow I think I'm getting to my local spot early before the wind picks up and see if I can revisit some of those skills. Might more difficult than I remember...

grantmac017 · Joined: 04 Aug 2016 Posts: 946

ss59 · Joined: 10 Nov 2016 Posts: 104

I think tacking is a far better indicator
tacking a small board (c.5litres more than Kg body weight) consistently in both directions is an indicator of skill.

knowing when and where to tack (and which type of tack), is an indicator of experience.

those two together is, to my mind, the indicator of a 'good' windsurfer

being able to tack well opens up an entire world of windsurfing.

Darbonne · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 9:08 pm Post subject:

I probably will never be an "expert" I am not sure I even know what that is. I do know that learning windsurfing is a process for me. Progress can be slow and difficult, but it is also very rewarding for both mind and body.

ctuna · Joined: 27 Jun 1995 Posts: 1125 Location: Santa Cruz Ca

Do you own any of the instruction video's
There are some that are entirely devoted to jibes.
Peter Hart
Charles Dasher 12 step jibe
Guy Cribb dvd and website.

online ytube from getwindsurfing and some others.

You might take and ABK camp in Texas in November or
April.

PeconicPuffin · Joined: 07 Jun 2004 Posts: 1830

techno900 · Joined: 28 Mar 2001 Posts: 4161

Planing jibes and tacking small boards both take a lot of skill. Unless wave sailing, tacking a small board isn't needed very often. On the other hand, you have to turn around and jibing is the most common way.

Every jibe is usually an attempt to do a planing jibe, so there are LOTS of practice opportunities. Tacking? Only when I feel like I should give it a try, which is not often. I make a few, but miss most. Screw up a tack and you fall in. Screw up a planing jibe and you sail away, at least for intermediates.

Apples and oranges...……...

I had two good days at the OBX this past weekend and discovered another fault I make when attempting planing jibes. I make maybe half, but I found that when I flip the sail, I tend to lean back (to make room for the flip), which isn't really needed, but if you lean back, the tail sinks and you lose speed. I do have my weight forward and knees bent going in, but then mess it up with the sail flip. Don't lean back.

NOVAAN · Joined: 28 Sep 1994 Posts: 1549

Now the new bench mark is the full foiling jibe.

Goodwind · Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 323 Location: On water

My two cents:

Beginner:
Uphaul
Sail back an forth
Tack on high volume board

Advance beginner:
Go upwind with centerboard and able to come back to where you started
Sail comfortably back and forth at subplaning speed
Tack on midsize board

Intermediate:
Beach start
Low wind gibe up to 15mph wind
Planing without footstraps
Learn to use harness and footstraps

Advance intermediate:
Waterstart
Planing in footstraps and harness
Go upwind without centerboard
Plan out jibes in Bird Island (Corpus Christi) like conditions
Able to sail comfortably in 20 -25 mph wind
Complete 50% jibes in rougher water

Advance:
Go upwind in small board and fins
Low wind waterstart
Plan out 50% jibes in rough water
Able to sail comfortably in 26 - 35 mph wind
Free style tricks on high volume board
Beginner free style moves
Beginner wave sailing
Beginner slalom and one design racing

Expert:
Uphaul on very small board
Tack on small board
Plan out most jibes in all water conditions
Free style tricks on small board
Wave sailing
Serous slalom and one design racing

Pro:
Tack for a living
Win for a living in general

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

IMO, the skill that actually MATTERS the most is a very reliable waterstart in any conditions. Jibing is convenient (and fun), but a 100% waterstart can prevent giant hassles and even save lives. Every day on the water I see extremely experienced Gorge sailors who look great on their reaches and stay dry for hours but who never plane through their jibes. It's just not a high priority with them, and they clearly couldn't care less what label others may apply to their skills.