Gybing technique is one of the toughest and most critical elements of skiff sailing, but Trevor Baylis (world champion in 14s, 18s and 505) has some ideas that will help make heavy-air gybing a whole lot safer. "Whatever type of skiff you’re gybing, I’m a firm believer that the helm should be last person in and first person out. My thinking on this is that, like in mountain biking, it’s better to be completely out of control for a tenth of a second than vaguely out of control for 10 seconds. So if the helmsman can minimise his time through the boat, the safer you’ll be...."
Spicing things up - Quantum's Travis Odenbach sails with his J/70 HoneyBadger. Photo by Phil Pape.
