How to save tail walking and sick speed footage from Nils Bach

I wailed myself pretty good last week when the board started to fly off the water. Good thing I had my helmet. This was through my 4/3.

Not sure if there is anything I should be doing when I feel the nose start to lift. If its anything like regular windsurfing, what your brain thinks you should do probably makes things worse (eg sheeting out when your foil is about to breach).

Of course I wasn't going as fast as this guy but what happens at 9.16 is pretty much what it felt like my board did befor the crash. Any tips on saving it next time. Definitely, a little gun shy now

smaller fin can help.

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thedoor said..
OK I def don't have my kit fully sorted and do adjust my boom height and mast base, while on the water.

I guess I am wondering if there is anything I should or should not do during a tailwalking experience eg sheet in/out head upwind/downwind, pray?

Although everything is happening very quickly there are two paths you can take, it really depends on whether your brain says "survival" or "send it"!!
For a "survival" recovery you're looking at depowering and slowing down without dumping the back hand. Ease the back hand but keep weighted forward so that mast foot pressure remains, you can round upwind only when the nose comes down. Keep the front arm locked out to stop being back winded as you sheet out.
If the brain goes "send it" you have to make the rapid and committing move of bearing off slightly and sheeting in more to increase the mast foot pressure. Again, the front arm needs to be rock solid, keeping the rig as upright as possible. Core stability is the key. If you can nail this move the power hit is awesome. You can just imagine how it ends if you get it wrong though!!

I think part of tail walking is caused by wind under board lifting the nose. Getting more weight on the mast will indeed help to push the nose down. But more weight on the windward rail, will decrease the amount of air lifting the nose. This is also why a smaller fin helps, keeping the board flat is so much easier.