Anyone who regularly performs a standard foil jibe in light winds will be familiar with the problem of overtaking the wind whilst on a downwind course. The trailing edge of the wing then dips, creating a braking effect that makes it difficult to foil through the jibe. However, there are other jibe variations that get round this problem, as the wing is continuously swept by the airflow from the leading edge (= front tube). The Heineken jibe – along with the Race jibe and the Duck Jibe - the different types of gybe which offer particular advantages in light winds, as the wing’s braking effect is eliminated in this manoeuvre. Incidentally, this type of gybe was invented by the American Jonny Heineken – hence the name.
If you Standard jibe Once you’ve mastered that, you’re ready for the Heineken jibe, because the manoeuvre isn’t actually that difficult to learn. Light winds are ideal for practising, as you can cruise along at a relaxed pace; it’s only in really powerful conditions that the Heineken jibe can sometimes prove tricky. We’ll show you all the individual steps and key points in the following photo gallery.
Heineken Jibe – the key points
- Check the speed and assess the clear space downwind
- For a cross-wind manoeuvre, pull the wing over your head whilst it is in a neutral position
- Basic principle: First pull the wing towards the outside of the turn, then swing it round the outside towards the bow
- Maintain a consistent curve radius
Manuel Vogel
Editor surf
