Step 2. The helm and crew move their weight out to the old windward side. This not only helps the boat turn more quickly also by causing the boat to heel to windward this allows gravity to pull the sails across the boat ready for part three.

This may all seem very confusing so I’ll go through each step in detail.

In step 1, adjusting the sails shifts their centre of effort backwards, so more force is behind the centreboard causing the boat to turn in the water. The helm and crew leaning in slightly allows the boat to heel to leeward, the hull now in the water is shaped in such a way that the boat will steer towards the wind (this is why it is hard to bear away when the boat is heeled to leeward).

In steps 2 and 3, the amount of helm and crew movement will depend upon the wind strength so I will split this explanation into very light, light and medium onwards.

In very light winds, once the sails have begun to flap, the helm and crew should lean out hard on the old windward side. Once the main has moved across, only the helm should move to the new windward side, the crew should just get back into the new leeward side and pull the genoa in.

In light winds, once the sails have begun to flap, the helm and crew should lean out hard on the old windward side. Once the main has moved across, only the helm should move to the new windward side, the crew should move into the middle and pull the genoa in.

In medium winds upward, once the sails have begun to flap, the helm and crew should lean out a little on the old windward side. Once the main has moved across, both the helm and crew should move to the new windward side.

The next problem is how best to move about the boat.

If the crew is sitting in the boat then they may face forwards during the tacks as they are only sliding along the seat. However if the crew is sitting on the side deck they should tack facing backwards. This involves moving as follows, the forward foot should step over the centreboard case and the toe strap on the opposite side, then the aft foot may be moved over to become the new front foot and then sit down on the side deck. As the crew moves from one side deck to the other they should take the windward sheet in their aft hand this means that most of the slack in the sheet is taken out just by moving across the boat. The crew should not start moving until the helm does, just get the forward foot unhooked from the toe strap.

The helm needs to develop a new skill to make roll tacking flow - steering the boat with their forward hand behind their back. This may seem impossible to those who aren’t double jointed but there is a secret. You don’t sit on the side deck with your body facing the middle of the boat; you lean on the side deck with your body facing the front of the boat, and it is now far easier to move your arm, as steering requires. Practice this when just sailing on a beat so that when it comes to the tacks it feels natural.

Now for the tack. Holding the main sheet in your front hand and the end of the tiller extension in your aft hand (I find the dagger grip easier during the tack) push the tiller away and place your front foot on the floor pointing forwards. As the boat turns move in and squat, legs bend and back vertical facing the front and wait for the boom to swing over and the boat to heel to leeward. You should now be able to stand upright without getting hit by the boom. Place the windward foot on the side of the centreboard case and step up while turning the tiller extension behind your back to the middle of the boat and lean onto the side deck. Make sure that the boat is back to normal speed before swapping hands. The main sheet should not be jammed through this manoeuvre to allow you to adjust for the wind strength as required.

It all sounds very complicated but it flows more easily on the boat. Practice is required, so don’t expect your early roll tacks to be anywhere near as good as your current tacks. However the sooner you start to use the correct technique the sooner you can have fast tacks that will allow you to take advantage of every wind shift without worrying about how much you time you will loose in the tack.

Good luck and happy tacking,

Tony Moore GP14 13676 "Calypso"