Basic Turning for beinning sailors:

1. Safe-T position (neutral):

From sailing return to Safe-T position. Keep front hand on the mast. You can put back hand on the mast also, or on uphaul line, but take it off the boom.

2. Tip mast towards back of board:

Point the mast towards the back of the board. Drag clew of sail across the back of the board.

When demonstrating on simulator, drag sail across back of the board, until feet get in the way, then start to walk feet around to front of mast to Safe-I position.

3. Walk Feet around front of mast to Safe-I:

First, keeping the clew of sail on the back of the board you will walk to the front of the mast while both feet are facing the back of the board. This is another Safe position – (neutral) because sail has no wind in it at this point. This forms an I shape, Safe-I. From here, you need to keep the board moving, so you will need to do something to catch wind in the sail.

4. Tilt Mast:

Tilt mast in the direction you want the nose of the board to go. The sail will follow. Lean the mast in the direction you want the nose of the board to go and finish walking your feet around the mast. You're going to finish turn in SafeT position (neutral) on new side.

Check that your front foot is close to the mast, your front hand is on the mast – and you know where you're going (where the nose of the board is pointing) after you've finished turning.

Exerpt from Camp level Sail the Rainbow Manual