Sail story and teaching point...

[dlandersson]

Went out with a sailing buddy late yesterday - did some really nice sailing. Same boat, different levels of experience. My partner could get us up to 5.5 knots at 30 degrees near reach/close hauled. I could get us up to 5 knots at 60 degrees near reach/close hauled or later, 4.5 knots at a beam/broad reach.

Waves and wind began picking up (small craft advisory today), furled the Genoa, went behind the breakwater, started the outboard, and turned my 97X into the wind to lower the mainsail. Two of my sail ties blew off the cabin top into the water before I cold wrap the main with the. Recovered one from the water, figured the other one had sunk. Tried to start the engine - it shuddered and shook considerably. We are a couple hundred feet from a rocky shore. Raised the engine, the other sail tie was wrapped around the prop. Shut everything down, buddy went behind the cockpit and unwrapped the sail tie. Lowered engine and all was well (plus I had both my sail ties back). Could have been a bit more hairy.

Lesson learned: stuff the sail ties into my shirt (or perhaps put some velcro strips on the cabin top.

 

[sailormanbigd]

sail ties

You might try starting motor before dropping your sails? It might help you keep boat pointed into the wind and should you be face with another situation might help get you ou of trouble. Or, decide to douse sails a bit further out with sea room to alow for problems without running the risk of grinding on lee shore. In windy/rough conditions clear all decks! Stow everything that could break loose or slide around and possibly go overboard- I had an anchor and rode lying on my fordeck with just a bungy strap over the pile, well while I was woohooing it with the 25k winds the anchor slid over the side and the helm became difficult-anchor did'nt set but the drag was weird. I dropped sail and retrieved anchor and rode and sailed on,lesson learned.
My Morgan has a long strap(nylon i think) that runs bellow the boom and sail ties are sewn to this strap every two feet or so. That way the ties are never hard to find or go missing or overboard but they are always there below the boom when sailing, not too pretty but functional.

 

[dlandersson]

Thank you for playing.

The outboard (50HP Merc) was started - that's how we turned into the wind.

Like the idea of the strap below the boom.

You might try starting motor before dropping your sails? It might help you keep boat pointed into the wind and should you be face with another situation might help get you ou of trouble. Or, decide to douse sails a bit further out with sea room to alow for problems without running the risk of grinding on lee shore. In windy/rough conditions clear all decks! Stow everything that could break loose or slide around and possibly go overboard- I had an anchor and rode lying on my fordeck with just a bungy strap over the pile, well while I was woohooing it with the 25k winds the anchor slid over the side and the helm became difficult-anchor did'nt set but the drag was weird. I dropped sail and retrieved anchor and rode and sailed on,lesson learned.
My Morgan has a long strap(nylon i think) that runs bellow the boom and sail ties are sewn to this strap every two feet or so. That way the ties are never hard to find or go missing or overboard but they are always there below the boom when sailing, not too pretty but functional.

 

[kenn]

My Morgan has a long strap(nylon i think) that runs bellow the boom and sail ties are sewn to this strap every two feet or so. That way the ties are never hard to find or go missing or overboard but they are always there below the boom when sailing, not too pretty but functional.

We have this arrangement. The under-boom line is actually a double run of 1/4" bungee material with plastic hooks threaded on. it's very convenient.

 

[All U Get]

Instead of sail ties we used shock cord with corks from wine bottles. Every once and a while I'd lose the grip on one and it would shoot into the air. Since we had plenty of corks and willing drinkers, the effort was graded for style and distance.
All U Get

 

[catsailor]

Sail ties in the prop is a new one. Bum luck.

I would add that having the anchor ready to go in seconds is always a good idea. More than once I have found that to be the best answer, particularly when sailing alone. Once the hook is down, you have time to calmly solve the problem. It can work in surprisingly tight spaces if the drill is well rehearsed and no time is wasted deciding.

 

[Joe]

My partner could get us up to 5.5 knots at 30 degrees near reach. I could get us up to 5 knots at 60 degrees near reach or later, 4.5 knots at a far reach.

What is a near reach or a far reach..... and your degrees mentioned refer to what?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Hmm, Joe, I had the same question.

 

[higgs]

Had the same question, Joe and Stu.

 

[LuzSD]

me too, same question.... Joe, Stu and Higgs!

Also, don't understand why the engine was started again... did you turn it off while recovering the one tie you did get??
Ties have never been an issue....... we either stuff one in each pocket and then reverse the order as they are tied on.....or they go around my neck on the boat we crew for.... never ever had one even budge no matter the conditions.

 

[weinie]

Lesson I learned. Some outboards can be started twice in the same paragraph.

Just like Obama's teachable moments, this makes so much sense.
:bang:

 

[dlandersson]

Nice point. My Plan B was to unfurl the genoa and get back out to sea.

Sail ties in the prop is a new one. Bum luck.

I would add that having the anchor ready to go in seconds is always a good idea. More than once I have found that to be the best answer, particularly when sailing alone. Once the hook is down, you have time to calmly solve the problem. It can work in surprisingly tight spaces if the drill is well rehearsed and no time is wasted deciding.

 

[dlandersson]

Degree of the prevailing wind direction - I have a Raymarine windex installed

http://www.raymarine.com/ProductDetail.aspx?SITE=1&SECTION=2&PAGE=233&PRODUCT=457

Points of sail:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Points_of_sail

What is a near reach or a far reach..... and your degrees mentioned refer to what?

 

[dlandersson]

Yes, we turned off the engine before raising it or putting any hands anywhere near it to unwrap the sail tie.

me too, same question.... Joe, Stu and Higgs!

Also, don't understand why the engine was started again... did you turn it off while recovering the one tie you did get??
Ties have never been an issue....... we either stuff one in each pocket and then reverse the order as they are tied on.....or they go around my neck on the boat we crew for.... never ever had one even budge no matter the conditions.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

fwiw,

I run a bungy cord(s) under my boom, with clips. when I drop the sail, I pull the bungy over the mainsail, and clip to the other side of the boom.

later I attache sail ties.

its the fastest way to contain the sail, and always ready to go.

 

[LuzSD]

I give

 

[kpgraci]

I carry the sail ties in my teeth, I'm pretty sure it makes me look cool, too.

 

[dlandersson]

Lol :d

i Carry The Sail Ties In My Teeth, I Pretty Sure It Makes Me Look Cool, Too.

 

[dlandersson]

That's a pretty nifty idea.:dance:

fwiw,

I run a bungy cord(s) under my boom, with clips. when I drop the sail, I pull the bungy over the mainsail, and clip to the other side of the boom.

later I attache sail ties.

its the fastest way to contain the sail, and always ready to go.

 

[Anonymous 121765]

Joe's question

Joe,Based on your question, see the attachment & print it out. If you caan put it into a protective sleeve, keep it in the cockpit & practice the different points of sail & their names.CR