Tacking facing forwards

[andrew turner]

I haven’s seen any comment on the Forum on the Norwegian guy that won the Europeans.  All the video shows him tacking facing aft.  If you look at him sailing his Europe on Youtube he does the same.  Will and I tried to look frame by frame at the video but we still can’t see what he does with the mainsheet.  Any clues from you guys who attended the event?

 

[Kazrob]

It’s quite common in Europes where if you move your weight back while roll tacking the low freeboard at the transom corners scoop water into the boat. The technique is to step with you front foot through the V formed by the mainsheet and ratchet block so that the free mainsheet end is between your legs. Then as you turn round facing backwards you pivot on the old front foot and bring your old back foot round to the new side and viola! you are on the other tack with both hands in front of you but crossed over. Easy-peasy when you get used to I’m told but I cant say I’ve ever mastered it and too old to try now

[Tony Woods]

Yes Karen is right. Greg Wilcox explained to me the same process. It’s a Europe thing designed to keep your weight forward in the tacks. Looks completely odd but didn’t seem to slow him down much!

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