iQFOiL riding technique: The fast tack on the foil - Max Körner explains the key move
At the beginning of the iQFOiL era (2020), everyone assumed that foiled tacking was not possible. Then, about three years ago, a video of a foil tack was published. Since then, all iQFOiLers have incorporated the foil tack into their training, as it offers great advantages over a glided or normal tack. In our men's fleet, everyone can actually foil the tack during training.
If you fly through the tack, you not only maintain your speed better, but also gain more height, i.e. a lot of metres on the way to the windward mark. Not everyone sees it in regattas, as there is always a certain risk associated with the manoeuvre. Especially if you haven't yet mastered it perfectly, it's very easy to fall into the water during a foil tack. You then lose significantly more time than if you accept a touch down on the tack.
The most important tips for the foil tack
- It's best to ride upwind. You should make sure that you have enough speed.
- You luff energetically by placing your back foot in the centre of the board, unhooking and angling the board.
- As soon as the tip is facing into the wind, put the sail on the back of the board to keep weight on the foil.
- At the same time, the front hand slides all the way to the front of the boom
- Now you have to be quick and jump around the pole. The back foot is best left standing for as long as possible.
- It is important to cross your hands on the boom head
- On the new side, you have to quickly go to the back and have the battens folded over.
- Now you still have to drop down and find the foot straps.
The whole thing requires a lot of balance, speed and coordination. But patience is probably the most important thing, because you don't just learn a foil tack like that. It takes many hours of training. In the end, you're sure to have bruised a few toes and cut your ankles, but that's probably the case for everyone who learns the foil turn - so it's probably part of the process.
