Boat doesn't turn

[Tim R.]

I was sailing on an Etap 39 this weekend and had a very scary situation. The wind was a steady 20 knots with gusts of 25 and 30. We were on a collision course with another boat. The other boat did not see us so I turned the wheel to head off the wind and the boat did not turn. In fact I turned the wheel all the way to port and nothing happened. The boat would not react until we released the main sheet. Later while attempting a jibe the same thing happened and the boat would not jibe until the main was eased.The captain said any boat will do this if the sails are not balanced properly and I should have told him. Well the wheel felt perfectly balanced to me. I was steering with a couple of fingers and the only time the boat would round up was in 25 knots or more. Is this normal of a larger boat? My Pearson has never done this. I think it is more a design flaw of the ratio of rudder area to sail area. What do you think?Tim R.

 

[Tim R.]

I was sailing on an Etap 39 this weekend and had a very scary situation. The wind was a steady 20 knots with gusts of 25 and 30. We were on a collision course with another boat. The other boat did not see us so I turned the wheel to head off the wind and the boat did not turn. In fact I turned the wheel all the way to port and nothing happened. The boat would not react until we released the main sheet. Later while attempting a jibe the same thing happened and the boat would not jibe until the main was eased.The captain said any boat will do this if the sails are not balanced properly and I should have told him. Well the wheel felt perfectly balanced to me. I was steering with a couple of fingers and the only time the boat would round up was in 25 knots or more. Is this normal of a larger boat? My Pearson has never done this. I think it is more a design flaw of the ratio of rudder area to sail area. What do you think?Tim R.

 

[Gord May]

The skipper's full of it ...

Of course you should be able to fall off or gybe, no matter what state of trim (balance) you're in.He's also right, in that you should have told him the boat was not responding to the helm.

 

[Gord May]

The skipper's full of it ...

Of course you should be able to fall off or gybe, no matter what state of trim (balance) you're in.He's also right, in that you should have told him the boat was not responding to the helm.

 

[John Dawson]

Sounds right

Large boats under pressure can ignore the helm at inconvenient times, and you must notify the skipper and the sail handlers quickly. In heavy conditions, sail trim is very much a part of maneuvering.The worst example I've experienced was in prestart in heavy winds with a C&C39 long ago. We were confronted with a starboard tack boat crossing us at close quarters, and the helm wouldn't answer. We couldn't ease the sheets fast enough to help the boat turn.I think most skippers of medium-sized performance boats in heavy conditions experience this at times. Low wetted surface, smallish spade rudders and angles of heel make steering interesting. Its my impression that when a boat is under much pressure, the helm is less responsive. One assumption I have is that "sail forces" increase with wind speed, while the rudder only improves with boat speed. At hull speed the sails become an increasing factor in overall control. Obviously, reducing sail helps restore the balance, but thats not how you win races, is it?

 

[John Dawson]

Sounds right

Large boats under pressure can ignore the helm at inconvenient times, and you must notify the skipper and the sail handlers quickly. In heavy conditions, sail trim is very much a part of maneuvering.The worst example I've experienced was in prestart in heavy winds with a C&C39 long ago. We were confronted with a starboard tack boat crossing us at close quarters, and the helm wouldn't answer. We couldn't ease the sheets fast enough to help the boat turn.I think most skippers of medium-sized performance boats in heavy conditions experience this at times. Low wetted surface, smallish spade rudders and angles of heel make steering interesting. Its my impression that when a boat is under much pressure, the helm is less responsive. One assumption I have is that "sail forces" increase with wind speed, while the rudder only improves with boat speed. At hull speed the sails become an increasing factor in overall control. Obviously, reducing sail helps restore the balance, but thats not how you win races, is it?

 

[Tim R.]

More info

The problem is that I did not detect any imbalance in the helm. We were making 5-6 knots and were not racing. Knowing the conditions, I asked for another reef but was overturned. Speaking of racing, I would never race with this person. Unfortunately I am related so I was obliged to sail with him.He has very little sailing experience. He bought his first boat 2 years ago which was a 30 ft. Albin and last year upgraded to an Etap 39. He doesn't know how to use a chartplotter and when I asked him for a chart of the area we were sailing(buzzards bay) he looked and said "oh well, I guess I don't have one". He has been sailing this area for 3 years without a chart.I figure it is only a matter of time before he either has a close call and gives up or his girlfriend convinces him to get rid of the boat.Just for the record, I have been sailing/racing for over 30 years on everything from windsurfers and dingy's to 40 ft. blue water boats. We curently sail a Pearson 28 and a Hobie 16. I am also a member of USPS and have completed many courses with them and USCGA.I don't pretend to know everything but I am safe.Tim R.

 

[Tim R.]

More info

The problem is that I did not detect any imbalance in the helm. We were making 5-6 knots and were not racing. Knowing the conditions, I asked for another reef but was overturned. Speaking of racing, I would never race with this person. Unfortunately I am related so I was obliged to sail with him.He has very little sailing experience. He bought his first boat 2 years ago which was a 30 ft. Albin and last year upgraded to an Etap 39. He doesn't know how to use a chartplotter and when I asked him for a chart of the area we were sailing(buzzards bay) he looked and said "oh well, I guess I don't have one". He has been sailing this area for 3 years without a chart.I figure it is only a matter of time before he either has a close call and gives up or his girlfriend convinces him to get rid of the boat.Just for the record, I have been sailing/racing for over 30 years on everything from windsurfers and dingy's to 40 ft. blue water boats. We curently sail a Pearson 28 and a Hobie 16. I am also a member of USPS and have completed many courses with them and USCGA.I don't pretend to know everything but I am safe.Tim R.

 

[Don Guillette]

Tim R: Generally, what is happening in these situations is the mainsail, due to its large amount of area is overpowering the rudder. I see this happening frequently in beer can and club racing events. A boat is approaching a turning mark and the mainsail/traveler trimmer does not ease the traveler and as a result the boat driver is fighting to turn the boat and it does not want to turn. The solution is simple - just ease the traveler down as you approach the mark and the boat will go around nicely. In fact, in any situation where the boat is overpowered, your first step should be to ease the traveler not the mainsheet. If that doesn't solve the problem (in 9 cases out of 10 it will) then ease the mainsheet but don't ease the mainsheet first. Next time you encounter the sitution you described try my suggestion and see if it works for you.

 

[Don Guillette]

Tim R: Generally, what is happening in these situations is the mainsail, due to its large amount of area is overpowering the rudder. I see this happening frequently in beer can and club racing events. A boat is approaching a turning mark and the mainsail/traveler trimmer does not ease the traveler and as a result the boat driver is fighting to turn the boat and it does not want to turn. The solution is simple - just ease the traveler down as you approach the mark and the boat will go around nicely. In fact, in any situation where the boat is overpowered, your first step should be to ease the traveler not the mainsheet. If that doesn't solve the problem (in 9 cases out of 10 it will) then ease the mainsheet but don't ease the mainsheet first. Next time you encounter the sitution you described try my suggestion and see if it works for you.