First sail of the season, lessons learned and I shoulda known better

[Scott B]

Headed out Friday evening over to the YMCA camp my kids have gone to for the past 11 yrs. and son is working this summer, for a volunteer work weekend. The camp is 1 1/2 hours from our marina so take the boat and anchor in front of the camp.

Heading out winds were fairly calm, 5-6 knots. At the end of our bay, which runs N-S, the winds started picking up to 10 knots, but on our stern, but figured hey first time out might as well. Pulled out the main and jib. As we crossed the outer bay ( running W ) winds picked up to 15 knots behind us, good, making some speed and enjoying the sail. Further along, 17 - 20 knots, ok, we can keep running down wind no problem. Crossing what I call the slot, which runs NW, winds then go 22- 25, ( our boat typically we start reefing at 15 knots ) but we're still ok runing downwind and I figure I can hold on until we get into the shadow of the island we're heading for and then pull in the sails.... Rounding the southern tip of the island ( which runs N-S) of course the winds start to gust and funnel and shift direction just enough .... 25, 28, 30... 31 off the beam, oh crap, over we go, round up, heading into the 2 ft. sand shoal off the end of the island, pop the jib, sails flapping everywhere, jib sheets tangle and can't furl, but no pressure left, my son manages to get us heading ddw, but now heading for a rocky island but time to work the sails. Manage to get the main furled back in the tend to the jib.

Shoulda known better since I did a similar thing couple years ago, but the gust at the end of the island wasn't as strong and managed to get the jib furled before having to head up more into the wind.

Way too much fun on a tired Friday night....

 

[CalebD]

If you are thinking that it is time to reef in the sails it is probably already too late. Sailing down wind it is always deceptive how strong following winds are.
At least you recovered and already knew better.

 

[rardiH36]

Following Wind Can Be Deceptive

Sailing down wind it is always deceptive how strong following winds are...

CalebD is certainly on the mark with this observation. I still remember, soon after I bought my boat, and was even more of a neophyte than I still am three years later, sailing downwind along the SF waterfront off Pier 39 going about 8kts. It seemed like the wind was slight. So I decided to jibe instead of tack. Firstly, I almost took my head off. Secondly the boat rounded so quickly into the wind and I didn't know enough to release the mainsheet fast to compensate, that I found myself broadside to a 25+ knot gale that I couldn't feel just a few moments before. I've never since seen my boat buried past the toe rail so much. I put a smile on my face so not to alarm my passengers to my concern. Fortunately, everything returned to OK in just a few more seconds. But now I'm a lot more careful when going down wind to judge the following wind velocity before I decide whether to tack or jibe.

 

[Hermit Scott]

I guess it's OhCrap story time. Last week I stayed on the boat 4 days with my wife and my best friend. We did a lot of fishing and some sailing. The wind was howling but we were going to stay in the ICW. We motor out of the marina. I let out the head sail while sailing past the ferrys. The wind was coming a little ahead of the port stern quarter. I have the 110 jib all the way out. It was feeling overpowered so I told them, hey we need to roll this jib up some, the wind is too strong. My friend rolled his eyes. He just wanted to kick back and continue on making the wine dissapear. So we go into a small debate over whether it is necessary or not. It started to heel over alot so I turned up into the wind so I could furl the jib. The wind wasn't on the beam until I turned up more. It put the toe rail in the water. When it came back up I was headed toward the bank near the ferry landing, but it was through where the wind was directly on the beam. I let go of the wheel, released the sheet and pulled the furling line in. We motored the rest of the way.
There always seems to be spectators getting some unintentional humor when I make a mistake. This time there was literally boat loads of people.

 

[Ross]

I am always supprised by how fast my boat sails in ten knots with a double reef. It doesn't take much power to sail at 4 knots and going slow like that can be very relaxing.

 

[Brian M H23]

I do't understand why we're rounding up / etc / etc when trying to head up into the wind to reef.

Heading downwind with good speed, leave the main eased, trim the jib a bit (not a lot, but don't flog it), then turn up into the wind and reef the main behind the backed jib. You shouldn't be burying the rail or rounding up to get there, if the main is eased.

I sail unballasted dinghys where we can't reef at all, and sail when the wind pipes up to 30+. Making headway upwind under sail is tough, but for any other point of sail, trim until they just stop ragging, there's still plenty of go to maintain steerage.

In other words, if it's windy
Heading closer to the wind - steer first, then trim
Heading away from the wind - ease first, then steer

And always be ready to ease!

 

[fifedog]

Just curious, did we check the NOAA Operational Wind Forecast for your area before you headed out? Usually fairly accurate to gauge what's out there.

 

[Hermit Scott]

Just curious, did we check the NOAA Operational Wind Forecast for your area before you headed out? Usually fairly accurate to gauge what's out there.

For me wind speed wasn't the problem. Just lack of experience.

 

[bffatcat]

Overpowered my 2c

Dont any of you sailors on this thread have an anemometer? If your sailing down wind and it
starts to breeze up I suggest you reef ASAP. Im not gonna bother explaining how to reef because everyone has a system that works for them. I can reef in less than 2 minutes and at 73 Im not as fast as I used to be. The important thing is to get it done before its to late so their wont be any oh crap stories

 

[Seattle Scott]

Hermit you said: It started to heel over alot so I turned up into the wind so I could furl the jib. The wind wasn't on the beam until I turned up more. It put the toe rail in the water. When it came back up I was headed toward the bank near the ferry landing . . .

Next time, fall off to DDW and let the jib collapse, then roll it in, no flogging, no straining. Works even better when the main is up.

If you have sea room and are overpowered, just go deep downwind to collect your thoughts.

 

[Brian M H23]

Don't go too deep..watch the gybe

 

[Hermit Scott]

My main had a tear that I didn't want to get worse so I was just flying the jib. I just fixed it the other night, I used 5200 and sealed it up from both sides with two layers of ripstop nylon. Not as good as sail cloth but this repair will last until I can buy another(hopefully).
I don't mind sailing in heavy wind. I need to learn how to do it. My wife doesn't flip out any more. She said it was an adrenelin rush, just don't do it again. lol
the first time we went out, she was steering in chop and went into a panic because she thought the boat would flip over.
Next time, I will reef the main at the dock and only roll out 75% of the jib. The week before last I had 75% out with no main and we were getting around 6.5 to 7 knots going with the wind. I think we accidentally had the jib trimmed correctly. lol

 

[Stu Jackson]

I think we accidentally had the jib trimmed correctly. lol

That's great. Now, can you remember for next time???

Seriously, though, have you considered getting Don's sail trim chart?

 

[Scott B]

Just curious, did we check the NOAA Operational Wind Forecast for your area before you headed out? Usually fairly accurate to gauge what's out there.

NOAA doesn't cover Canada, and even if I did ccheck the Georgian Bay Buoy data, would not give me the gusts that occur in our inner bay. My mistake was thinking since I was heading ddw, the 20 plus knots would be fine, not anticipating 30 plus and a wind shift that put me over.

 

[Scott B]

Dont any of you sailors on this thread have an anemometer? If your sailing down wind and it
starts to breeze up I suggest you reef ASAP. Im not gonna bother explaining how to reef because everyone has a system that works for them. I can reef in less than 2 minutes and at 73 Im not as fast as I used to be. The important thing is to get it done before its to late so their wont be any oh crap stories

I have windspeed, elsewise I wouldn't knw the windspeed I was getting. My mistake was thinking I could outrun the wind ddw and get into the lea of the island. Unfortunately the wind direction shifted as it was being funneled by the tip of the island and I was hit with the 30 knots off the beam.

 

[AXEL]

I think someone mentioned this but;
In heavy weather furl the jib while sailing down wind! If you don't believe me or have never tried it please do. Believe me it's way easier on you and the sail.

 

[Joe]

That's great. Now, can you remember for next time???

Seriously, though, have you considered getting Don's sail trim chart?

Good advice. There's no need trying to invent new sailing techniques before the old ones are understood.