Front-to-back sailing (part 2 of 2)

In the first article on front-to-back sailing we learned the basics of pushing the sail, or sailing front-to-back. I promised then that this move could lead to much wilder fun sailing, so let’s look here at some of the possibilities.

The very next fun step is to get into front-to-back from sailing clew-first (sail backwards). Have a look.

 

As usual, start slowly, in low winds. You don’t have to jump, that was just me showing off. Just step in front of board and follow the sail as the wind swings around, leaving your hands in place on the boom. Basically you follow your hands.

You have to admit this is getting pretty exciting already…. But frankly we haven’t really started yet.

How to get into a clew-first in the first place? From a front-to-back, of course! You just push the front-to-back around mid-way on the boom. The back hand is the pivot: the rig swings over, the front hand only guides the rig around. As the rig swings over, pivot the body 180 degrees into normal sailing position, and sail clew-first!

This is easier shown than described, yo:

 

Wow, we realise that we can chain thems tricks together into one big mamma show-off trick – this is exciting! So, from front-to-back sail 180 to clew-first, 180 to front-to-back, and so on.

Now, let’s tack the front-to-back to a normal sailing position. This is useful to get about in strong winds, to rest the arms, etc.

 

We just learned to tack from and to front-to-back. Basically now you can sail all day without your hands ever leaving the booms, effortlessly too, even in fairer winds!! Don’t forget to learn all this on both tacks though… By the way, in the last video, was that one confined place for windsurfing or what? This is was a good example for this kind of tacking: requires less room and motion. Also used on starting lines for racing.

OK, let’s say you’re already good at all this. Let’s insert of a couple of pirouettes – body spins, if you will – into the front-to-back moves. Warning: this is slightly more advanced. Consider only when you master the easier stuff in this article.

 

You can see 2 different pirouettes in this last video. In the first one, I pirouette at the exact point when the sail and board are coming about. Upon returning from the pirouette, I grab the boom, bring the rig forward and complete the tack into a front-to-back position. As if I never pirouetted.

In the second pirouette, I pirouette whilst pushing the front-to-back into a clew-first. I keep one hand in contact with the boom as a guide as to where the rig is during all that spinning.

These are somewhat (not greatly) more advanced moves, and frankly I’d like to publish something about pirouettes in general in a later article. So perhaps we can wait until then.

Here is one last example of what can be done with the front-to-back sailing. It’s the same as pushing the front-to-back to clew-first, but with the board on the rail. Warning: this is, like way more advanced freestyle. In fact, it is a rather violent move to try. Let’s discuss all this in further articles, when we talk about railrides.

In conclusion, hopefully with this short two-part article, I caught your attention and interest into the possibilities of fun sailing. The basic front-to-back sailing move is fairly easy to grasp, the rest is all icing on the cake, you don’t have to get into it right away. Just sailing front-to-back is a thrill that is within anyone’s reach.

Remember: once you learn these things, you have a ‘moral’ duty to teach others. Let’s spread the excitement !

Above all, have fun, play hard, play safe!

Meanwhile, I would be happy to field any questions, suggestions for articles and moves, and so on. I intend to get to other flat sailing moves, railrides and other stuff. If I get back to Sydney to my wave sailing, I’d like to write an article that covers freestyle common to both long boards and shorter boards alike.

Please comment or ask a question on this article by posting below.

Now before we get started, please note that by reading these articles and tips you acknowledge that these tips can cause injury and are carried out at your own risk. Pierre and LBWS take no responsibility for your actions.