How to Heli Tack in windsurfing! A full guide to an easy heli tack, with all the tips and tricks.

The Heli Tack (or Helicopter Tack) is a super fun move to try even if you are still at the beginning of your windsurfing career! It is also a very important tack variation because it requires you to learn the basics of backwinded sailing, which is a very important sail handling skill and will help you with future moves.
Another big advantage of the Heli Tack and the main reason I use it is because it is a safe turn. Meaning, that because you don't need to go over the nose like in a normal tack and you have constant power in the sail, it is much harder to fall off the board! (Once you have learnt it obviously)
My top tips for the Helitack would be:
1. Focus on your positioning! The board must have reached the wind line and even crossed over slightly before any other moves are made.
2. Slice the sail into the wind, don't push.
3. With the sail, enter the wind fast but then keep the position with the sail over the board for as long as it takes, which brings us to the next tip.
4. PATIENCE! Wait until the board has completely turned through the wind and is even heading to where you want to be going on the other side before you flip the sail.
5. Make your sail flip as smooth as possible. Let the sail follow its natural course, allowing it to create some distance between you and the sail and pull it back up and forwards at the end of the rotation.
And that's it! It is an easy move once you have the basics down so dont wait any longer. Get out there and practice! Even some land practice could help you get used to the sail's backwinded feeling if you cant get out on the water just yet!
Remember to have fun and see you on the water! :D

[@markoconnor680]

👍 The Helitack description was precise and in sequence with the actions shown, and as I'd run my own Windsurfing school during the mid 1980s I knew that although a gybe is most common to perform the actions used in a Heli-tack is of benefit to know also. Particularly standing upon Slalom boards, but especially when using Wave-boards.

[@claudiafrers8923]

To review main steps go to 10:56 & 7:00 & 8:40 & 11:30 & 12:15. Seriously becoming my favorite windsurf channel.

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

I am glad you like my videos and thank you for helping others with time stamps! :) Stay posted for more.

[@gregorschleussner9024]

Τέλεια! Best explanation available on KZbin. Will test it out as soon as back on the water. this will be in light ioanian summer winds, so will have to practice with a very big sail…σε ευχαριστω…

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

Thank you! I hope it helps :D Παρακαλω!

[@simonparker4992]

Thank you. This is a great, detailed and non-patronising explanation of helitack.

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

I am glad you liked it! Hope you get it perfected soon! :)

[@martaskorulska99]

Very easy to understand which gives a beginner confidence. A big thank you, Kyriakos.

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

I am glad you liked it! Hopefully you get it soon! :)

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

Ok! Sorry guys... at around 12:50 looks like I make a small mistake and start referring to the duck gybe! Everything I am saying is obviously about the Heli Tack I just got confused in my head. Didn't even notice until some of you guys mentioned that to me! ( I do have a duck gybe video so go find that if you wanna know how to make your duck gybes smooth and easy! )

[@MyWalkAround]

Excellent video! Good explanation, covering points that some videos don't mention!

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

I am glad you enjoyed it. I hope it helps you out! :)

[@bradleypatterson5706]

I watched this video and found it very helpful. Around 3.03 you talk about the main mistake. I finally understand the mistake I am making. I often when trying to back wind the sail it powers up again…I was not slicing the sail into the wind (front of the board). Thanks for pointing this out as it finally got me to do this move correctly. Love your instructional videos! Keep ‘em coming.

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

I am glad I could help! Keep up the good work and progress. :)

[@thezerogforce]

best explanation , thank you man you are the best. i will try it on Saturday

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

Thank you! Glad you liked it :)

[@layzerlee]

Thanks, easy to understand!

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

Great to hear it! Hope it helps :)

[@arthurkus]

Very nice explanation. Beautiful breakdown

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

Thank you! Hope it helps! :)

[@lihenow]

Great video, thanks

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

Thank you for watching! :)

[@yradovic]

Great video, good tips I will try next time on the water

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

Thank you! Go for it and have fun :D Good luck!

[@savvasanagnostou9059]

τέλειος δεν έχω λόγια😊

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

Ευχαριστω πολυ! :D

[@MarcoVecchio84]

Thanks! Great video, I'll get around to it eventually! So far I've only managed to give myself the tree on the legs :D

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

Haha! That is very normal... focus on the part where I said you dont have to cross the sail over the wind line to make it rotate. You simply slice it into the wind, approximately over the nose of the board and you hold that position and wait. That is usually the main reason you hit your legs! :D

[@alinasirola5531]

Great video! Could u please explain the difference between a heli tack and a jibe?

[@johnb1677]

Great Vid!!! Thanks for highlighting the 2 options for the exit, can't wait to get on the water and try letting the sail go when my front foot lands. Do I have that right? I always get over powered on the exit and fly off the nose of the board. Brilliant advice! (sometimes I fly off more literally than I want and land really far from the board)

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

Hey! Glad I could help! Yes that is basically right but I wouldnt put such a 'strict' rule on it. Especially when you are first practicing your dont want to have to think about too many little things. So, just try to feel your way around it... you should not feel any of that pull that normally throws u off if you get the timing right! :)

[@johnb1677]

@@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind Thanks Kyriakos! I'll keep working on it!

[@Aijse]

Awesome! I need to get practicing, but it is so cold here.

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

I know its not the best time of year to be posting new videos but this way you can get a head start! :D Maybe even some land practice to get used tot he sail being backwinded :) Either way, next time you are on the water just go for it! Good luck!

[@mousikantis]

Γεια σου Κυριάκο σε ευχαριστούμε !

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

@@mousikantis Εγω ευχαριστω! :)

[@matt-0teachings952]

Thanks Kakos! Good explanation, well presented. I've subscribed. I don't think the dog at 4:54 was impressed, though.

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

Hey Matt-0!! Thanks for the kind words... This dog is never impressed. He is a tough audience and quite stuck up at times if you ask me! :D

[@erkaltarm2872]

Thanks boss👌

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

Your welcome! Hope it helps! :)

[@reimop9595]

Cant wait the spring or 9mm suit 😄 Thanks, it seems not very difficult i should try.

[@vaggelisvassos1455]

Αδελφέ αν επιτρέπεται τα βίντεο που γυρνάς σε ποιο μέρος είναι.

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

@@reimop9595 it really isnt once you get the feeling of the sail position! Practicing on land could help with that and make it easier in the water! :) Good luck!

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

@@vaggelisvassos1455 Γεια σου φιλε μου! Το μερος ειναι το Windsurfers' World στην Ροδο! Το καλυτερο μερος το καλοκαιρι! :D

[@Ash-cy7yw]

3:34 haha. Who's a good boy...! lol..

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

Hahaha thats Rocky all right!

[@Aijse]

You ended up mentioning duck jibe all the time though ;) I was also wondering if you wouldnt keep rotating the sail while the board rotates, to keep the sail pointing in the wind.

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

Ah yes just rewatched the video and noticed I get mixed up! Sorry about that... I am still talking about the heli tack, just referring to it with the wrong name :D I dont fully understand your second question. Care to explain more?

[@Aijse]

@@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind I mean that after you backwinded the sail and the board starts turning, you should also turn the sail, but in the oposite direction. This way you keep the sail at the same angle in relation to the wind direction. That's what I do atleast, but I am just learning it, so I am not sure.

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

@@Aijse to make it simple: You want to 'slice' the sail across the wind, towards the nose of the board fast so that you start catching the wind backwind. In this position your mast will be over the nose of the board or JUST past it, your front arm is extended towards the nose and your weight on the front leg that is slightly bent. So at this point you should be backwinded but you will feel the pressure in the front part of the sail (at the mast not at the clew) and then all you have to do is wait in that position! all your kit stays the same, like it is stuck! You dont turn anything except your head that looks where you want to go. You just wait until the equipment has come to the right position, so you can finish the turn by rotating the sail. I hope this makes sense! :)

[@thezerogforce]

if you can do a video on how to get planning. for us the beginners / intermediates that we find it difficult to get planning because something we do wrong maybe with the feet or the harness. i don't know my brain cannot get it how this is works.

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

Hey Savvas, Check this out and hopefully it helps. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYTbiqevZrCefLc Main idea when trying to get planing is to use the pressure through the harness and mastfoot to control your gear

[@thezerogforce]

@@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind thank you very much

[@markmalekian4383]

Fix the sound! Do one with mic. Tnx for the videos, good one! great work!

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

Thanks for the feedback! Glad you enjoyed it

[@japp3playzz]

Of couse the dog has done millions of heli tacks , he is bored :P (10:37)

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

For sure! Nothing new for him

[@glemfit224]

Very good camera woman you have :P

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

The best!!! :D

[@jacksbackable]

👀No wonder you forgot the manoeuvre you were explaining.......😝🏖🌴☀️😎🇦🇺

[@patricklenglet8401]

Hello, your vidéo is vers good but could you make it in french 🙏🙏👍👍

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

Thank you! Unfortunately my French is not good at all :D

[@justinasm3769]

i am here only for 4:37

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

your favourite part of any move! :D

[@justinasm3769]

@@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind 9:04

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

@@justinasm3769 hahahhhaaha

[@user-qy2ej1yx1t]

Как всегда - слишком много лишних движений и слов!

[@kyriakosgiakoumaroswingandwind]

If thats what you think, then thats fine! Just dont fault it until you try it :)