Hi all, Being this is our first month in our first year with our '95 Hunter 26, I figured I'd post for some guidance from everyone... Today was the 2nd time in 2 weeks that we took the boat out in 15 mph sustained with gusts to 21 mph winds. The boat has been a joy at speeds lighter than this. But when the wind hits this level it becomes a little tenser. The problem I've noticed is going up wind, say close hauled (mostly), but has occurred even on a beam reach. We'll be sailing along mildly heeled over, with one reef in the main and the jib fully extended (on a furler), when a stronger gust hits. I've tried both letting air out of the main, as well as heading into the wind (on a close haul to flatten the boat out), but it seems that we inevitably lose rudder control and really have that helpless feeling as we head quickly into the wind and watch the sails flutter restlessly. We then go back to our tack and all feels fine and then it happens again. I realize I'm not the best sailor in the world, so that's why I'm posting here to see if anyone out there can give me there best ideas as to what I can do to avoid this. PS...what would considered a satisfactory heeling angle for the H26? Thanks in advance for any replies! Sincerely, Charles Ross (crjb1@yahoo.com) Jasmin '95 H26 Couer d'Alene, ID
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Brigg Franklin
You must respond to the wind
In gusty conditions, like we get here on the Columbia river in the winter (10 to 30 to 10 kts in seconds), you have to respond to the wind before the boat heels so far you lose rudder control. You don't sail a straight line, but rather head up in the puffs and down in the lulls, or ease the sail and then trim it in again, which is slower. I would also recommend that when you reef the main, you roll the jib in about half way to keep the boat balanced. If you don't want to sail with the jib rolled half way in. then roll it all the way up. The boat will sail well on just the main, will give you weather helm (good) and will head up in the puffs almost by itself. It will also feel much more like you are in control. If you are heeling far enough to lose rudder control you have on way too much sail and are not making use of the sail you have anyway, so shorten it. Brigg PS, I teach sailing at Island Sailing Club under just such windy conditions.
In gusty conditions, like we get here on the Columbia river in the winter (10 to 30 to 10 kts in seconds), you have to respond to the wind before the boat heels so far you lose rudder control. You don't sail a straight line, but rather head up in the puffs and down in the lulls, or ease the sail and then trim it in again, which is slower. I would also recommend that when you reef the main, you roll the jib in about half way to keep the boat balanced. If you don't want to sail with the jib rolled half way in. then roll it all the way up. The boat will sail well on just the main, will give you weather helm (good) and will head up in the puffs almost by itself. It will also feel much more like you are in control. If you are heeling far enough to lose rudder control you have on way too much sail and are not making use of the sail you have anyway, so shorten it. Brigg PS, I teach sailing at Island Sailing Club under just such windy conditions.
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alan
What Brigg said and...
...make sure your rudder is all the way down. The rudders on these boats tend to creep up. If the rudder is up by as little as 10 degrees, you will notice it as loss of control. It will then tend to stall quickly if the boat is over canvased. Rudders, sails and keel function like wings on a plane. If they are not set correctly they fail to function. You should heel no more than 15 degrees normally and as these boats tend to heel easily (tender) you need to correct by reducing sail area. If you are novice, the tendency is to sheet in (pull the sails in) too much causing more heel. Look at your tell tails. If you find yourself starting to heel too much in general let the main sail out as suddenly heading towards the wind will only exagerate your heel. Think of a top heavy truck suddenly turning. If you are broad reaching or running then you will have to head into the wind and ease the sheets together. alan alan
...make sure your rudder is all the way down. The rudders on these boats tend to creep up. If the rudder is up by as little as 10 degrees, you will notice it as loss of control. It will then tend to stall quickly if the boat is over canvased. Rudders, sails and keel function like wings on a plane. If they are not set correctly they fail to function. You should heel no more than 15 degrees normally and as these boats tend to heel easily (tender) you need to correct by reducing sail area. If you are novice, the tendency is to sheet in (pull the sails in) too much causing more heel. Look at your tell tails. If you find yourself starting to heel too much in general let the main sail out as suddenly heading towards the wind will only exagerate your heel. Think of a top heavy truck suddenly turning. If you are broad reaching or running then you will have to head into the wind and ease the sheets together. alan alan
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Ray Trombino
When in doubt...
I agree with both Brigg and Alan. I sail the H-260, and by the time the winds are up to 15 knots, I'm shortening sail I don't ahve a jib roller furler, so I use the following measures. Lower the jib, main still full Tighten outhaul to flatten main Reef the main, raise the jib Reef main and lower jib All sails down - power home. The H260 sails well at a 15 degree heel, and will quickly round up if it heels beyond this - this is a very good safety feature, especially with water ballast. My previous boat (Seaward Fox - 19') had a fixed keel, and was much less tender. You have to sail within the limitations of your boat. Ray
I agree with both Brigg and Alan. I sail the H-260, and by the time the winds are up to 15 knots, I'm shortening sail I don't ahve a jib roller furler, so I use the following measures. Lower the jib, main still full Tighten outhaul to flatten main Reef the main, raise the jib Reef main and lower jib All sails down - power home. The H260 sails well at a 15 degree heel, and will quickly round up if it heels beyond this - this is a very good safety feature, especially with water ballast. My previous boat (Seaward Fox - 19') had a fixed keel, and was much less tender. You have to sail within the limitations of your boat. Ray
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Ray Trombino
When in Doubt
I forgot to add - the old adage: "When in doubt, let them (the sheets) out. Be prepared in gusty winds to ease the main quickly. Ray
I forgot to add - the old adage: "When in doubt, let them (the sheets) out. Be prepared in gusty winds to ease the main quickly. Ray
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Rick Engel
Weather Helm
Charles: We also own a Hunter 26. I would say that weather helm is the trickiest thing to overcome on this boat. It is definitely the most embarrassing! In my view, the most important concept in overcoming this problem is BALANCE. There must be an even symmetry between the main & jib, otherwise the main acts like a weather cork & simply turns the bow into the wind. You need the right amount of foresail to counterbalance this tendancy. However, there is a limit - if there is too much pressure on both sails, the resulting heel will take your rudder out of the water. Thus, you have to find the right combination to maintain a balance between the main & jib, & a balance between the wind pressure & hull/ballast resistance. All of the suggestions mentioned already are important in reaching this balance: turning slightly into the wind in anticipation of the gust, adjusting the mainsheet & jib sheet, & reefing early to maintain equal power between the 2 sails. If you do not have a traveller, you might consider installing one. We put a short one at the base of the hatch, & have been very pleased with the improvement this made. As well, make sure your mast is raked forward as far as possible, & the shrouds are kept fairly tight. At the end of the day, it all comes down to practice. It helps, though, to be thinking about the right issues. Good luck with your new boat. Rick "MoonGlow"
Charles: We also own a Hunter 26. I would say that weather helm is the trickiest thing to overcome on this boat. It is definitely the most embarrassing! In my view, the most important concept in overcoming this problem is BALANCE. There must be an even symmetry between the main & jib, otherwise the main acts like a weather cork & simply turns the bow into the wind. You need the right amount of foresail to counterbalance this tendancy. However, there is a limit - if there is too much pressure on both sails, the resulting heel will take your rudder out of the water. Thus, you have to find the right combination to maintain a balance between the main & jib, & a balance between the wind pressure & hull/ballast resistance. All of the suggestions mentioned already are important in reaching this balance: turning slightly into the wind in anticipation of the gust, adjusting the mainsheet & jib sheet, & reefing early to maintain equal power between the 2 sails. If you do not have a traveller, you might consider installing one. We put a short one at the base of the hatch, & have been very pleased with the improvement this made. As well, make sure your mast is raked forward as far as possible, & the shrouds are kept fairly tight. At the end of the day, it all comes down to practice. It helps, though, to be thinking about the right issues. Good luck with your new boat. Rick "MoonGlow"
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Frank Ladd
Healing angle 15 degrees max
If you are healing more than 15 degrees in this boat you have to much sail out. It causes slower sailing embarassing spinouts and an unhappy crew. Somewhere between 30 and 40 degrees of heal will remove you rudder from the water and cause a spinout. Many older designs were designed to sail at a 30 degree angle but not these boats (23.5 240 26 260. Sail them flat. These are great light air boats. In heavy air they sail fine but are not as competitivlely fast. Every design has its requirements and this boat requires flat sailing. In the springtime I reef when the heeling is consistantly near 10 degrees because gust will take me over 20. Strong gusts will actually slow you down if you have to much sail out. I think it is a great thing that these boats sail well with just a reefed main Or I'd be really sad during the spring and winter.
If you are healing more than 15 degrees in this boat you have to much sail out. It causes slower sailing embarassing spinouts and an unhappy crew. Somewhere between 30 and 40 degrees of heal will remove you rudder from the water and cause a spinout. Many older designs were designed to sail at a 30 degree angle but not these boats (23.5 240 26 260. Sail them flat. These are great light air boats. In heavy air they sail fine but are not as competitivlely fast. Every design has its requirements and this boat requires flat sailing. In the springtime I reef when the heeling is consistantly near 10 degrees because gust will take me over 20. Strong gusts will actually slow you down if you have to much sail out. I think it is a great thing that these boats sail well with just a reefed main Or I'd be really sad during the spring and winter.
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