How to Tack (back-winded!)- the BEST way to tack!

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The classic "Fast-Tack" has it's strengths, but most solid windsurfers use this style of tack most of the time!
This skill is and ideal progression to learn for intermediate and advanced windsurfers.
Key points...
- The Preparation and entrance is the same
- The big change is at the transition.
Do the following actions just after you go through the wind:
- The ORIGINAL FRONT HAND pulls the mast hard from one side to the other. (NOT the NEW front hand reaching round and pulling it!)
- This does a few useful things...
- Stops you break counterbalance and pulling the sail close to you.
- Creates space on the new side of the board that you can easily step into.
- When done with a strong dynamic movement it turns the boards a few degrees more through the wind.
- The sail then becomes backwinded, turning the board more, and keeping you balanced and upright!
- When backwinded keep the sail low to the water- the clew in particular.
- Push with the NEW back hand.
- When ready return the sail to the balance point and return the wind to it's normal side.
- Smile and sail away dry- and hopefully well up wind of where you started!

Follow me @cookiesport on instagram for regular tips and updates.

Filmed in Vassiliki, Greece- join me here for a clinic!
Kit used... a mix of Point-7 sails, mainly the Spy, ACX and F1e.
Boards vary too, starboard tends to be my "go-to" for kit, but also RRD a lot too.
Audio recorded on InstaMic
Filmed on a mix of Insta360 OneR & GoPro Max
Mixture of camera mounts including Fly Mount and Sail Video System

#windsurf
#instaoner
#ridealong
#point7
#sungod
#starboard
#shorts
#vassiliki

[marketa_k]

The repeated slow-mos are super helpful....really gives me the chance to see how it's done and understand the technique .Thanks Cookie for another fabulous piece of windsurfing knowledge!! 😊✌

[zytigon]

I recommend the Philip Köster tack which you can see on Philip Köster youtube channel video from 2014, "Windsurfing at the step" in Tenerife at 1 minute 10 seconds in. Going through transition he does back hand ( one nearest clew on boom) to mast then front hand goes to new side of boom at harness lines. For tacking where you are heading straight into the waves this way seems more robust and simple. One advantage is that while holding the mast for a second the sail can swing around neutral, doing its own thing. Don't be too quick even to grab the boom until you sort of stabilized on the new side of board. Can help to grab boom fairly near mast and push backwinded a little for a second or two. A sharp pull on back hand before going round can help. It is still tricky to judge the exact moment to go around in relation to how the board is pointing to the wind direction.

[dairyairman]

I've been working on the back winded tack for a few months now after a friend tried to explain it to me. I really appreciate your explanation and demo of it, which is much better than my friend's! I've gotten to the point where I can do it pretty well while going from starboard to port, but not from port to starboard (for some reason i don't understand). Maybe this video will help!

[maikelvantures]

I'm on to tacking now in the mornings, when i have the Bay for myself. The advice you gave about going trough the wind just a little, helped me a alot. I feel its getting better with each session. Hopping from 1 side to the other.

[gregoryschreier]

excellent video with all of the perspectives.
thanks for posting!

[JavierMorellColl]

Thanks for another splendid video. They are quite unique and helpful. Please add some windfoil videos before the end of the season. Still missing the high speed windfoil from last year.

[richym]

Great video and extremely fast manoeuvres!

[oceannesailor]

so I'm the 400th person to like this video, AND the 70th person to comment. Do I win an all-expenses paid trip to join you for a week in Vassiliki!!!??? woo-hoo! Thanks, Cookie! for that - and for the videos and tips! 😁

[BuderChristian]

Could you make a tuto on the heli-tack?

[matthewfairman]

Another great video!... Is the backwinded tack something that "evolves" from doing lots of ordinary quick tacks?... I have my quick tacks dialled in quite well now... also I can sail back winded before doing a heli tack...
Nb Would love to see a video where you compare light wind heli tack versus high wind heli tack....Thanks😀

[Jhoekstra]

Man, I wanted to learn this so bad. I’ll have some practice in Morocco!!

[fertysurfer]

Perfect bit of filming. Do you find it easier to grab the mast low with the old back hand on the transition rather than boom to boom?

I was practicing these last Sunday on the lake after watching you and popped my shoulder which oddly enough was brilliant news as I'd been suffering pain and loss of mobility for a year after popping it practicing heli tacks on the beach. Must have been a trapped nerve or a slight dislocation. I'll credit you with my miraculous recovery. Thanks.

[Bornagain]

Wow! what a great Instrunction can't wait to try this out. I have been struggling to stay dry during tacks i hope this way of tacking will get me consistent tacks without falling. Does the backwinding make it more stable or does ist have another purpose and could you do a video about heli tacks? Thanks

[claudiafrers]

How much power in the sail is needed for these manuveurs to be successful? Does practicing in light wind conditions say under 10 knots make any sense at all or do you need to be powered up and going upwind?

[kev-the-windsurfer.]

Brilliant timing as always!! I have just been thinking I need to man up and do more tacks!! So this is great, thanks for this incredibly straight forward instruction. I notice you stay low as well, crouched almost, I feel this is probably key to keep balanced? I am one of these guys that likes to sail way upwind of everyone else, I'm very good at going to windward, even on my Severne Dyno 85 with the tri-fin setup, but I feel the tack is going to add something very useful to my arsenal!! Can't wait to get out and try this!!

[meuryniorwerth]

Hi Cookie, great video as usual. Discovered the channel a few days ago and as whetted my appetite for my june 2022 Vass holiday - delayed from 2020 due to Covid.
On a separate note, what is the weather/wind like in mid May in Vass as I may be able to as I may be able to squeeze in another holiday then? Meuryn

[cameaston]

Thanks for the video! I found sometimes when going for a tack if I come around the mast too early before I’ve gone through the wind I back wind and instead of continuing on with the tack through the wind I find I go the other way and kind of end up gybing ? (Not sure what you would call it) Is is possible to keep the board moving through the wind from the back winded position? I’ve tried moving sail forward and back but I find it pretty confusing sailing on the wrong side did the sail!

[prospermatkovic]

Which part of this is different from the fast tack? Is it going through the eye of the wind before making a transition? Is that a moment a sail gets backwinded (like for a heli tack)?

[Juan_lauda]

If you’re finding this difficult you might find you have more success going back winded by tacking BEFORE the wind as opposed to after.
Make sure you throw the sail across the centre line and not at the nose.
Look at the back.
Feels good.

[defenderoftheadverb]

I'd call that a garden variety fast tack. In a proper "Backwinded Tack" you step around before you turn and you carve into the wind while on the lee side.