Gybing/Jibing Safely

• Ensure the sailing dinghy is level prior to the gybe/jibe because if heeled to leeward, gybing will be harder as the sailboat tries to luff up and turn in the wrong direction.
• Conventional dinghy centerboards or daggarboards must be a quarter to half way down when gybing, because if any lower, the sailboat tries to luff when the boom swings across resulting in the boat pivoting around the centreboard causing the sailing dinghy to capsize. Experimentation will find the most efficient depth. Some modern skiff designs with narrow foils can generally gybe/jibe with the foil fully down.
• If the sailboat is fitted with a daggerboard, ensure that it does not catch on the boom or vang when the mainsail swings across causing a capsize.
• Gybing can be hazardous in strong winds so avoid any problems by luffing up to a reach, then tack around before bearing away to the new course.
• If gybing in strong winds, do so when the sailboat is sailing rapidly such as when surfing down the front of a wave. As the sailboat sails away from the true wind, the apparent wind reduces with the speed of the boat, reducing the forces on the sail, making gybing easier

gybing/Jibing Tips

• Once committed to a gybe/jibe, do not hesitate and turn the sailboat smoothly while being prepared to move fast when the boom comes across.
• To obtain advance warning of when a gybe/jibe is imminent, watch the leech of the mainsail one-third up from the boom. Look for where the leech folds back to windward indicating the wind is getting behind the sail.

• When the boom swings across the centreline, it is important that the tiller is centred and the helmsman and crew are in the middle.
• To avoid turning the sailboat through a wide arc to make the boom move across the boat, give a sharp tug on the mainsheet when the jib blows across the bow, starting the boom moving earlier.
• Remember that a heeled sailing dinghy turns away from the angle of heel which is compounded by not having a lot of centreboard in the water, and once the centreboard surfaces the sailing dinghy slides

Dead Run Gybe/Jibe

It is possible to gybe/jibe while sailing on a dead run with no course alteration at all, or only a minor one. On a run, the sails are set to their farthest extent. Gybing requires the sail to be rotated through approximately 160° from one side to the other. Gybing on a dead run with negligible course change, requires the crew or helmsman to pull the mainsail across to the new leeward side, rather than causing the wind to move it.

On a dead run the helmsman positions himself in the middle of the sailboat with the crew balancing the boat where necessary. On the helmsman calling “gybe-oh”, the crew clutches the boom vang swinging the boom across. On a centre-mainsheet sailing dinghy, the helmsman grasps the mainsheet tackle using it to swing the boom. When a spinnaker is being used then the control of the boom by the skipper is required while the crew gybes the spinnaker.