Tips from the Top

Question 1 - What is the best way to get out of irons if I have messed up a tack?

Kev Anderson Said: “Simple - Just don't do it !! There is no fast way out of it and once you are there your race is over” I can already see a follow-up question coming.

Richard Stenhouse gave a more detailed answer; “There are several things that you can use to get you sailing again.

1 - the Sail, this can be pulled to windward to push the bow round, backed to leeward to reverse out or trimmed to sail forwards.

2 - the hull shape, this can be used to steer the boat in the skiff it over rides the rudder at low speeds

3 - Centre of Effort, use this is like a windsurfer it is the relationship between the rig foils and you

4 - Rudder, get better with this and you wont be in irons in the first place

5 - Kinetics - the boat will move in relationship to how you move

6 - Rig settings - this can be used to make tacking easy i.e. rake up, doownhaul on ,outhaul on, kicker off and board slightly raised. this isn’t so fast in a straight line.

So a combination of these will get you going quicker.
Back the sail to leeward heel to leeward helm to leeward trim forward to reverse out of irons to beam reach. Then trim the sail in, heel to windward, bear away step out on the wire keep trim forward until rudder gains flow.