admin July 13, 2025 Sailing Previous Lesson Mark Rounding Comments (0)
Tacking and gybing are simple enough when you're bobbing around in a gentle breeze, the river calm, and your instructor nearby with words of encouragement. But introduce other boats, a tight course, maybe a gust or two, and suddenly you're performing boat yoga while everything flaps and chaos beckons.
Because let’s face it – you never need to tack or gybe calmly when it’s easy. No, these manoeuvres wait until you’re surrounded by faster boats, you're approaching a mark at the wrong angle, and the committee boat is watching with binoculars and mild concern.
This is the classic: you need to tack now, but your brain is still thinking about biscuits and your feet are tangled in a rope.
Tips:
Bonus tip: ducking the boom is not the same as forgetting about the tiller.
Gybing is the spicy cousin of the tack. It involves turning your back to the wind and hoping the boom behaves.
Key reminders:
Under pressure, it often becomes the "accidental gybe," which is both educational and character-building.
If it all goes pear-shaped:
Tacking and gybing under pressure is part of sailing life. The only way to get better is to do it, mess it up, laugh, and do it again. Each wobble improves your confidence, each near miss sharpens your control.
Just remember: even the best sailors have stories of rogue gybes, surprise tacks, and dramatic U-turns. You’re in good company.
