LIGHT WIND TACK - Dinghy Sailing Techniques - How to nail the manoeuvre

#SailFaster
In this video, Shaun Priestley gives us some top tips on how to perform tacks in light wind conditions. This manoeuvre can help you gain vital speed out on the race course and help you sail faster.
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[@callumwyper]

That rudder angle on the exit 😩😬

[@d_sparrow]

Ahah also scratched myself watching it

[@boordaniel]

Is this lake the Balaton in hungary?

[@HarryPotter047]

I can do that .. hold my beer

[@jaymacpherson8167]

So why wait until the wind starts to catch the port side of the sail AND the hull is going past horizontal and begins to roll? Seems like lost opportunity to keep the mast close to vertical instead of spilling all that air before the aggressive hiking out.

[@danielhebditch2916]

When you bring it back on yourself you pump the sail and gain power

[@jaymacpherson8167]

@@danielhebditch2916 Ah…if I recall correctly, that used to be against the rules. Thx for the reply.

[@danielhebditch2916]

@@jaymacpherson8167 it’s technically illegal to gain speed out of a tack, but you won’t ever be protested for it

[@martinyable]

Not sure, at what point , to ease the mainsheet though?. Step 4 even says to keep mainsheet tight ?

[@jaymacpherson8167]

I would play it by ear depending on wind direction variability. As you know, keeping the main sheet tight limits options. If the wind direction is fairly variable and erratic, I’d ease the main sheet quickly to be able to adjust as conditions change.

[@martinyable]

@@jaymacpherson8167 the whole video seems ambiguos then! Why is there advice to tighten the mainsheet, when we werent actually shown when to let it off a bit ! ??

[@jaymacpherson8167]

@@martinyable As to when…when you are finally on opposite tack and the sail position with the sheet in tight is not optimal for the direction you wish to head versus the angle of the sail to the wind. But if trying to point as high as possible (which is what I do while tacking), why not keep the sheet close and tight? I personally am not a fan of that hiking out to Leeward side during a tack as I suspect it loses more boat speed than keeping the boat flatter and the sail more upright as the wind catches the other side of the sail. Maybe my preference is due to learning to race dinghy’s without a cleat.

[@georgelane6350]

Given that the entire top end of every laser fleet does roll tacks in light winds, I'm pretty sure it works!
You will ease a little bit of mainsheet as you put your shoulders under the boom and then ease the boom about 40cm outside the transom as you start to pull it back to flat