My problem is that I only ever get out on big days at Rhossy or occasional mad days at WK so when I am maxed on a 4.0m heading out and a bloody great monster is about to break right on top of me I generally chicken out and just gybe out of the way rather than trying to remember the exact time to duck under the sail.

Must try and get down to WK on a nice f4-5 day and put some practice in when I've got more time to think.

Still wouldn't mind a bit of coaching though.

Or of course Andy (Bubble) Chambers and Colin Dixon are running a coaching session at Rhossi on 11/12 October*. It's billed as 'introduction to waves / looping', but I doubt that will stop them covering other stuff. Drop 'em a line?

http://www.boards.co.uk/main/article.asp?a=2883

*When all self-respecting windsurfers should be in Tiree

Well I reckon I could have cracked the duck gybes today at Rhossy at least out the the back. Cocked one gybe up and spent what seemed like forever surfing down the wave face mid gybe just holding onto the sail with one hand, would have been easy to duck under and swap hands but I just didn't think to try it at the time.

Aye aye - what day were u at Rhossy? A snook in a good sesh on Wednesday - Dark siding!! Eek, my kit has a _layer_ of dust on it!
Have you got any of the Peter Heart vids to watch from the comfort of your own front room? Some of em are pretty old, but the theory of duck gybes is still the same - I think they are in one called 'beyond the barrier' - if you can stand all the dayglo 80s colours! I might have it on Video, if you still have a video p_layer_ - which i don't, so your welcome to it if i can dig it out.

Was at Rhossy yesterday afternoon (arived about 12.30 when Mr Proffit asked why I wasn't there in the morning as it had been the best conditions for 12 months!)
Well powered all afternoon on 4.7m nice clean big waves still and sunny - definate 9 out of 10 session.
Quite a few of the WK massive there including Alex who was there from 10 a.m. said the wave sailing in the morning was fantastic.
Only problem today is my back and arse are battered from all the crashed back loops. Still can't wait till next time though.

Hi Ken

I know exactly what you mean!

Do not waste any more time learning the hard way! Get some coaching would be my advise. I can fully recommend the Jem Hall clinics. My sailing improved beyond all my expectations, plus I was taught by Jem how to develop on my your own during future sessions back at home. I can still hear him in my head every time I go for a gybe, tack or jump and it has made a massive positive difference to my sailing. I think that the investment in a one week coaching clinic can completely transform your whole approach to windsurfing and boost your confidence to enjoy the bigger more challenging days.

I have also changed my mind about light wind days since attending Jem's clinics and now see them as opportunity to practice core skills which once mastered seem to make the higher wind moves much easier.

Hope this has been of some help Ken, it has paid off for me.

Cheers

Roy.