Some Gybing Pointers

Hi
From time to time I do something on gybing.  Here are some more pointers.  Gybing and gybe moves warrant our attention given their importance to what we do on the water in every session.

These shots are from the RRD video on the new Firewing sail.  The rider is John Skye - an awesome wave sailor who probably dislikes slalom stuff.  His gybe is not as crisp as one of Antoine's but because he gets the basics right, he flys through the move with ease:

This aerial shot shows the body leaning into the turn while flaring the sail

The sequence starts here.  He banks the board, pulling in with the back hand, knees bent 

Downwind, he flares, looking forward through the window and starting the foot change

His feet have changed, he controls the board with his front foot keeping it down and also steering.  He looks directly in the direction he wants to go, and flips the sail

He collects the boom pulling down with elbows down.  He continues looking in the direction of travel, knees bent and bum low to hold against the powering sail.

We have racing here next week and some men have arrived from Mauritius.  Nice guys and hot sailors based on what I saw on the water yesterday (Severne, Loft, Patrik, Starboard - Nice!).  I think they are on ZFins.

Talk to you soon   

New Select Fin

Hi

Just a quick note.  Following my previous post and my comment about the absence of any visuals for the new Select Rhino, Kevin Do wondered whether the new G10 S1 is actually the Rhino.  I'm pretty sure that the G10 model is something completely different.  They call it the S1 Hi-Wind.

The thing I am waiting for is shown by them as a roughly shaded outline labelled "Coming Soon"

 

 Well "soon" has come and gone Select.  Where is the elusive Rhino??  We need visuals!

Looking at the Hi-Wind above, I have to say it looks the business.  My dream fin for wild water speed would be the iFins Fight Club or the iFins Air but I have to say that this new S1 is going to be worth a try.  Nice shape and altogether a classy thing.

Talk to you soon

GA Matrix, New GA Team Members and the Conversion of a 3S 116

Hi
I rode Karel's 2015 Matrix 6.0m and it was every bit as good as he described.  This has to be on the short list of anyone looking for a fast, easy, camless sail.  Very, very nice.  Peter's sails have a characteristic linear power delivery which gives you the confidence to push hard and continue accelerating without the usual wide eyes and white knuckles.  Every year this feature of his sails seems to improve.  My ideal small sail quiver now comprises 3 Matrixes (matrices??) - 5.5, 6.5, and 7.0.  I will enlarge on the logic for this selection in a future post.

Speaking of GA sails, I note that Taty Frans, Ludo Jossin and Antoine Questel have all joined the GA team.  These are all pretty impressive sailors so watch out for more Vapors kicking ass in 2015 slalom heats. Taty moves from Maui Sails and the other two racers move from Loft.  Interesting. Those of you who watch the PWA race videos will recall Taty (a freestyle guy) coming in with a huge jump in one of the heats and rounding the bouy with a duck gybe in another.  Awesome!

One thing which concerns me is the Tabou team.  None of the above guys is moving to Tabou.  This team has not seen new talent for ages and even though Ben has been riding the boards, he is not included as a team member.  What is going on?

On the subject of Tabou, regular readers may recall my only complaint with my Tabou 3S 116 - the lack of proper outboard strap positions for fast blasting.  I made up some aluminium plates which enable me to temporarily re-position the straps so that I could test whether outboard positions would work.

I only changed one side to get a feel.  The placement works perfectly and allows me to control and exert pressure on the fin.  Much faster!  I will consider making the plates in carbon fiber during our off-season.  My aluminium protos above will serve as good templates.  I would cover the final plates with rubber deckpad material.

No news yet on the new Select Rhino slalom fin.  Come on Select we need visuals!

Talk to you soon

Phil    

2015 Severne Performance Sails on Site

Hi

I note that Severne have posted the new Reflex and Overdrive onto their site.  I'm not sure why they took so long this year but the final result looks stunning in each case.

Overdrive

Reflex

Seeing the two models together like this demonstrates the slight design differences.  The Reflex is going to be one fantastic racing machine but the narrower sleeve and softer shape of the Overdrive would make this my choice between the two.  Nice work Severne.

I am giving some thought to re-visiting the ideal quiver question once again.  There is a lot of new stuff on the market and this has changed my thoughts about optimal sail/board combinations for advanced windsurfing blasters (us).

Karel, one of the hot inland sailors, has bought (amongst many other pieces), a 2015 GA Matrix 6.0m and reports that this is one awesome sail - very direct and almost race sail-like but easy and controllable.  I must say that I suspected as much from the design of the thing.  I will try to get a ride on this sail when the strong winds return and will report back.

Peter's designs just keep improving year after year.  The graphics and colours have also moved into a completely different league.  The colour above looks good in the picture but is even better in real life. Stunning!

Talk to you soon

Phil