Sail 360 step by step: release the rig on a downwind course, grab it clew-first and rotate the sail once around the mast foot – in light wind.
What is a Sail 360? A light-wind freestyle move in which only the sail rotates fully once around the mast foot while board and sailor stay in position [1]. You let go of the rig, grab it again clew-first and give it a second turn until it stands normally again.
The honest answer on difficulty: it looks like circus, but it is mostly handwork. The sail does the rotation, you just have to grab at the right place at the right time. The skill catalogue lists it as a beginner move; more honestly it is one level higher, because you must be able to sail clew-first and keep the sail open before.
Afterwards you have the toolkit for the Sail-Body-360, the duck jibe and everything later that involves switching the sail.
Where the skill sits in your learning chain: the Sail 360 is the first freestyle trick for many windsurfers because it works without planing, strength or waves. It combines three things you will constantly need later: letting go of the sail, grabbing the other side and balancing clew-first. After that you progress step by step: first the Body-Sail 360, in which you turn along with it, then moves like the heli tack and Upwind 360.
The order of your hands is important. Practise it first on land or drifting, then with little pull, and only at the end with speed. The trick is less spectacular than it looks, but it trains exactly the hands that decide at every later sail switch.
It is also honest to say: the sail does the rotation, not you. If it takes force, you are doing something wrong.
Practise in stages, not all at once. First the hand sequence on land (stand the rig up, let go, grab the other side), then drifting without speed, then with little pull on a run. Count the order of your hands out loud. At the start stay near the shore and practise on calm water so you can bring the rig back up without rush. Practising on both sides is a must, because otherwise the strong side hides the weak one.
Photograph or film your attempts if you can: hand changes show up in a video immediately but rarely in the moment itself. Your goal is not the first success but three even repetitions in a row.
Look downwind and to the side. Then leave the straps, unhook and bear away towards a run [1]. On a run sail pressure is low and the sail is easy to move.
Milestone: you sail 15 seconds calmly downwind without rounding up.
Back hand far back on the boom, push the mast forward, extend the front arm. Then let go: the mast swings away from you [1]. Immediately grab the rear part of the boom. Your arms cross.
The sail rotates. Quickly grab the other side of the boom as far up as possible, then the second hand. You are now sailing clew-first [1].
Rule: grab far up the boom first, only then the second hand.
Pull the mast to your body and release the clew hand. The sail rotates again, arms cross, grab the other side of the boom [1]. Keep the rig open and close to your body, do not push against it. Pushing against the sail is the classic mistake in backwinded sailing [2].
Both hands on the boom, trim, head up to a beam reach and sail away.
Milestone: three Sail 360s in a row without the sail falling into the water.
Do the Sail 360 first drifting on the spot: no speed, no pull, just the hand sequence. Only then from sailing. Once your hands know the order, the sail does the rest.
In the Sail 360 only the sail rotates around the mast foot, sailor and board stay. In the Sail-Body-360 sailor and sail rotate together around the mast foot [1].
In light wind, roughly 5 to 12 knots, on a big board and smooth water [3].
No. You step out of the straps and do the move without straps and unhooked [1].
After letting go, immediately grab the other side of the boom as far up as possible [1]. In practice it is usually grabbing too late.
Body-Sail 360 in Windsurfing: Rotate With the Rig Around the Mast Foot