This is baffling, because in 30 years of sailing I've never had any problems tacking in any conditions. The difficulties started with Mac 25, and the latest episode happened last weekend. The wind was 15kts gusting to 20 kts with about 2 ft. waves. I followed what I've learned so far - I've got close to the wind, trimmed both sails, fell out a bit, got some speed, let lose the jib sheet and started turning to wind (and into waves). At the start of the tack I was moving at about 4-5 kts. The boat swung into the wind, and literally stopped. I had to fall out 2 more times, and finally asked my wife to steer, while I manned the main and the jib sheets. We made it that time, but very sluggishly. What the *(&*(@##&^$#@ am I doing wrong???
Difficulties tacking in high winds and waves
- Thread starter Piotr
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Letting out the jib sheet is supposed to help pivot the boat as you move the center of the sails aft. This gives you a momentum and the wind force pushes the stern away from the wind and turns the bow to and across the wind line. They drilled this into my head during the sailing school.
Keeping the jib sheet set longer, like Stu said, allows the jib to push the bow across the wind. It's called "backwinding the jib" and a handy trick of small catamaran and dinghy sailors.
Just be ready to reset it to the lee side of the boat once the boat has tacked.
Works in really light air too.
Just be ready to reset it to the lee side of the boat once the boat has tacked.
Works in really light air too.
Merlin what do you mean be ready to set the lee side once the boat has tacked?
I have experienced that the jib is full of air and a pain to release from the cam cleat... but does it actually give you more umph and speed? It actually happens allot when my wife is with me because she is either too slow off the mark or not quite skilled enough, but I have been thinking it slows us down...?
I've been practicing my single handed techniques and start my tack by heaving the tiller to the one side and releasing the jib once the air is leaving it.. Before it fills backwards... Swing my self over to the other side and grab the jib sheet and reef it in tight and straiten the tiller.
I have experienced that the jib is full of air and a pain to release from the cam cleat... but does it actually give you more umph and speed? It actually happens allot when my wife is with me because she is either too slow off the mark or not quite skilled enough, but I have been thinking it slows us down...?
I've been practicing my single handed techniques and start my tack by heaving the tiller to the one side and releasing the jib once the air is leaving it.. Before it fills backwards... Swing my self over to the other side and grab the jib sheet and reef it in tight and straiten the tiller.
That's pretty much it, except you release the jib just as you start swinging. The wind acting on the main alone helps boat turn to wind. That's what the "weather helm" is all about. When you realease jib earlier, the boat wants to turn to wind by itself. However, I may be starting the turn too far away from the wind, so that when I'm getting close, the boat loses too much speed and stops in irons.
I'll make a video tomorrow of what I am doing. I'm racing at our yacht club and have extra crew to run the camera for me.
Perhaps I'll "heave to" as well and ask what is happening while hove apposed to tacking.
So I'll try releasing it right away, just as it depowers, and when it's kind of hove. I'll try to remember to do this all on the same tack.
Perhaps I'll "heave to" as well and ask what is happening while hove apposed to tacking.
So I'll try releasing it right away, just as it depowers, and when it's kind of hove. I'll try to remember to do this all on the same tack.
agreed.
on a hobie, or tornado you need to leave the jib set, and allow it to backwind to push the nose thru the wind.
sounds like you release too early. uncleat and hold till it starts to backwind, then let the sheet go and then pull in the new working sheet.
2' waves are not enought to stop you in 15knts.
I agree with letting the jib backfill fully before releasing it.... I have found it pushes the bow around the point quicker (like power steering) and it just seems to be an easier method to work... just push the tiller hard over and when the jib backs, I let the sheet fly as I move to the other side and when i get settled I trim the opposite sheet.... if the wind is a bit strong and I cant pull the sheet, then I may head up a bit to get the jib trimmed where I want it then go back on course.... it works for me and a lot of others and i bet it would work for you also....
Prior to buying a Mac my wife and I sailed a 5 meter catamaran. We had loads of trouble getting it to tack as cat's don't want to go through the wind at all. We ran aground a few times by having to jibe and running out of space! Then someone told us about backing the jib. We tried it and it worked like a charm. We just keep the jib in place through the tack until it back-fills... this then pushes the bow through the wind until the main fills on the new course. Then you fly the jib and set it for your new course and you're away!
It's like Mr Bill and Daryl said, just let the jib push the bow across to the point that the boat won't end up in irons upon releasing the jib.
With our sized boats, we can release the sheet from the cleat and winch and hold it in one hand, push the tiller over to tack the boat, let the jib push the bow across, center the tiller (I hold between my legs) and then set the jib on the new tack.
With a little practice it goes pretty easy.
That would be amazing to see how someone Heaves to in a Mac and turns into the wind...That video would be the best.
You might also want to reconsider pushing the tiller all the way hard over. Turn more slowly and the rudder won't act as a brake.
Another thing I learned was that ANY rudder works best when turned 45 degrees. Any more or less and it's not as effective. It's the force vectors. Just draw it and you'll see that the combined force is greates at 45 degrees.
That's why I always turn the rudder at 45 or so.
My wife wanted to know if I have a flogging foresail and how come she didn't notice after 12 years of marriage...I mean sailing.
I'm Just back from our clubs race night. (We won the 6:30!)
So I tried the back flowing of my genoa. It works like a charm! I did take some video of tacking with letting the jib out right away and letting the air out of it.
Then my BB told me the memory is full. Oops. Might have something to do with the over 1400 pictures and 100ish short videos I have on the SD card.
I can't get it up on YouTube tonight but will tomorrow.
I also didn't get a video of me back flowing the Genoa or Heaving to.
As for heaving to. I do it all the time mostly when I'm single handed or with Squeaky. Mostly to get something out of the cabin. Its a good way to kind of stop the boat and not be bouncing all over.
So I tried the back flowing of my genoa. It works like a charm! I did take some video of tacking with letting the jib out right away and letting the air out of it.
Then my BB told me the memory is full. Oops. Might have something to do with the over 1400 pictures and 100ish short videos I have on the SD card.
I can't get it up on YouTube tonight but will tomorrow.
I also didn't get a video of me back flowing the Genoa or Heaving to.
As for heaving to. I do it all the time mostly when I'm single handed or with Squeaky. Mostly to get something out of the cabin. Its a good way to kind of stop the boat and not be bouncing all over.
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