Saturday, July 14, 2012

Palo Alto Mud Dawgs Wyatt Miller Jibe Clinic

Title: Wyatt Miller Jibe Clinic
Date: Saturday July 14, 2012
Time: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: Palo Alto Baylands
Cost: $57 includes Togo's sandwich.
Organized by Jack Ollila

11:00AM to 1:30PM: Land lecture and demonstrations
1:30PM to 2:30PM: Lunch, Q&A
2:30PM to 3:30PM: Ponder what to rig in light wind and low tide... Most rigged 5's and 6's on big boards with small fins.
3:30PM to 6:00PM: Sail with Wyatt giving tips in the waist deep water above the second pole.
6:00PM to 7:00PM+: Derig, hose off mud and cocktails.









A lot of slogging with the lulls.  I sailed my 6.5m^2 Sailworks Retro on my 145L Mistral Explosion board with a 33cm freestyle fin but would have been much happier with my 7.5m^2 Retro and 53cm race fin.  Of course, with a 2.9 ft tide, the long fin was out of the question.


The good news is I wanted to work on going upwind with smaller fins and going upwind better while slogging.  With the light wind and low tide forcing a smaller fin,  I got some great tips from Wyatt on land then several times on the water on how to improve going upwind with a smaller fin.

It was pretty amazing to see Wyatt slog upwind out the tiny channel between the mud banks on a board that just barely floated him while I was doing our famous channel walk.  He gave me some tips on what he was doing while slogging past me to try my next time.

See my tracks at Garmin  with heart rate also displayed
Order Garmin 310XT

Participants (from the lunch list)
Kirk Lindstrom Turkey, swiss and avocado
Dirk van Putten Togo's #3 turkey and cheese
Hung Chen Pastrami on parmesan cheese bread
Mark Tan #30 (club sandwhich) on white
Kelly Moore (Couldn't make it - Dirk?)
John Schultz turkey on french roll
Roland Lucas cucumber and avocado
Jerry Kerr turkey, lettuce, tomato, mayo, white
Clayton Coate #29 turkey and avacado, swiss
Angel Gentchev #29 Turkey and Avacado
Colin Duffey #9 (pastrami) with mustard and pepperjack cheese
Jack Ollila Turkey

Thanks Jack and Wyatt for a great event!

Read the Comments for a summary of the Clinic Tips.

More Photos by  Royce Nicolas

6 comments:

  1. Besides the basic reminders from Wyatt there were 4 bonus points Wyatt relayed of additional value :

    1. in depth review of the proper methods of going upwind.

    2. the "Tyson Poor" revision of jibe protocol: Do not look under the boom while making the turn.

    3.in initial jibe step, do not place back foot perpendicular to front of back strap but instead place at about 45 degree angle so that it is somewhat at similar directional angle of front foot.....

    4. garnered better understanding of the shoulder to shoulder sail flip......

    I mention these points as not only are jibes so challenging, but the state of the art changes.... which reiterate the benefit of Wyatt's clinics..... If there are other newer points of instruction regarding the basic jibe which I missed, It would be good to hear.....

    ReplyDelete
  2. Here is what I remember about Harness Lines.

    Old days shorter was better. Now we want a higher boom to apply more board pressure and sail more upright for more efficient sail power.

    To do this, we want longer harness lines. Recently 18" to 24" was typical good length but now 24" is considered a minimum.

    Wyatt uses 28" lines and is trying 30" lines.

    Kirk's Comments.

    I saw 32" lines in the shop but I use 28" for my 6.5 and was using 24" for my 4.5, 4.8 and 5.5 sails.

    I broke a boom head last week sailing my 5.5 so I swapped in my boom for my 6.5 sail with the 28 inch lines to keep sailing. I really liked how the 5.5 felt with these longer lines and higher boom so I bought a new 28" harness line with a new boom head so I can use it on my smaller sails all the time.

    The only negative I have with a higher boom is it makes water starting much harder in very light wind.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Volcano Pad.

    Wyatt recommends everyone get one so you can use your feet to find the center of the board without looking and worrying about crushing your toes. This will get you more consistent jibes with your foot in the same place when you make the step.

    Slogging Upwind

    Sink the windward rail and put your front foot ahead of the mast. Watching Wyatt do this I saw it uses the rocker of the board to turn up into the wind.

    Sailing Upwind on a plane

    Keep back foot in front of back strap with just enough pressure to keep board flat. Flat board is key as it keeps fin flat. Any angle on the fin greatly reduces its efficiency.

    while doing the above with your feet....
    Rake the sail back and push head forward while looking over your shoulder in the direction you want to go. I did this with Wyatt watching and I could feel new power as if I was sheeting in just from raking the sail back... impressive tip to help sail upwind better with a smaller fin!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I think Wyatt said he uses 30" harness lines and is trying to get used to 32" lines.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jibe:

    #1 Front Foot Pressure: You should initiate your jibe by putting all the pressure you can muster into your front foot strap and onto the ball of your front foot. Front foot pressure should be the constant throughout your jibe while back foot pressure should be used to dictate the radius of your jibe.

    #2 Look under the boom: at the water downwind of the nose of our board. This will keep you crouched down with your knees and arms bent. If you look over the boom you will kill STEP #1.

    #3 Make sure it is in your mental checklist to slide your front hand all the way forward on the boom (towards the mast) just before you get ready to flip the sail. This will ensure the sail is able to flip cleanly.

    #4 Actively Flip the Sail: This is the most frequently forgotten step. To ensure the sail flips quickly and efficiently when you want it to flip. And to ensure it lands in front of you after the flip (not behind you, that is bad),YOU MUST!: Actively flip the sail by sweeping your front hand from one shoulder in the direction of your other shoulder across your chest. (Practice this with a sail on the beach.)

    #5 Click your heels together, when switching your feet, making sure to cross the centerline of the board as you bring your old front foot back. Crossing the center line with your old front foot cause you to weight the inside (turning) rail and keep the board turning in the right direction. Make sure your new front foot goes all the way up to the mast base to help distribute your weight.

    ReplyDelete
  6. If you missed this class, Wyatt is having another class this weekend.

    PostPosted: 13 Aug 2012 12:49
    Post subject: Jibing, Duck Jibe and Carve360 Clinic w/ Wyatt
    Sat 8/18 Stik

    Don't get bogged down with a case of the Augusts. There is still time to learn a new trick or dial in those jibes.

    I will be throwing a Jibe, Trick Jibe and Carve 360 clinic at Candlestick...or a nearby windy location depending on conditions.

    We will do a bunch of land work to get down the basics and then move out on the water, where I will anchor myself so you can rip those laydowns all around me or crash in the process and get some helpful pointers.

    $75 includes lunch and after sailing beverages.

    We will meet at the stick at 11:00 and rip until we can't hold on anymore...or the wind backs off.

    If you have never tried a 1 handed carve 360, you are missing out. They require far less commitment than a 2 handed carve 360 and can be nailed long before you are 100% on your jibes.

    And if you separate the Duck from the Jibe in a Duck Jibe you will save countless wipeouts.

    Email me if you are interested in attending.

    wyattmiller525@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

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