I spoke to a shipmate today who was confused about the difference between tacking and jibing. Maybe others have the same question. He told me he hates the thought of having to jibe. I asked why and he said he was afraid of doing it even though he wasn’t sure what a jibe even is.
A mate has good reason to be concerned with jibing and here’s why. While tacking the BOW passes through the eye of the wind. While jibing the STERN passes through the eye of the wind. So what is the big deal? When you tack the mainsail loses its power and luffs through the maneuver. When you jibe, the mainsail stays FULL OF WIND and if the boom and sail are not controlled during the maneuver, especially in the higher wind ranges, the boom will come across with tremendous forces and will crash to a stop on something or someone. An uncontrolled and unexpected jibe can be devastating in addition to scaring the hell out of all on board. It also does not instill much confidence in the skipper on the part of the crew.
The solution to this sail trim forum listers problem is to practice the jibing/tacking maneuver in a controlled situation. After about 15 minutes the fear of jibing will be gone because he’ll know how to control the boat, sail, and boom.
Here’s my suggestion for the practice session. Pick a day when the wind is light at about 6 to 8 knots. Start out on a port broad reach. Once the boat is steady, start an easy turn to starboard. Control the boom with your traveler so it doesn’t get away from you. Once the boom is on the other side continue on a broad reach and gradually proceed to a close reach. At that point tack the boat. Continue on a close reach and gradually go to a broad reach and start the whole process over again. Do it about 3 times. Actually you’ll find it to be so much fun you might want to keep doing it!!
Once you learn how easy it is to jibe, the fear is gone. Most mates don’t bother practicing anything. They wait until they get in the situation and then try to figure out what to do on the fly – then it is too late.
Maybe other forum listers have a better solution to help our brother sailor get over his fear of jibing?
A mate has good reason to be concerned with jibing and here’s why. While tacking the BOW passes through the eye of the wind. While jibing the STERN passes through the eye of the wind. So what is the big deal? When you tack the mainsail loses its power and luffs through the maneuver. When you jibe, the mainsail stays FULL OF WIND and if the boom and sail are not controlled during the maneuver, especially in the higher wind ranges, the boom will come across with tremendous forces and will crash to a stop on something or someone. An uncontrolled and unexpected jibe can be devastating in addition to scaring the hell out of all on board. It also does not instill much confidence in the skipper on the part of the crew.
The solution to this sail trim forum listers problem is to practice the jibing/tacking maneuver in a controlled situation. After about 15 minutes the fear of jibing will be gone because he’ll know how to control the boat, sail, and boom.
Here’s my suggestion for the practice session. Pick a day when the wind is light at about 6 to 8 knots. Start out on a port broad reach. Once the boat is steady, start an easy turn to starboard. Control the boom with your traveler so it doesn’t get away from you. Once the boom is on the other side continue on a broad reach and gradually proceed to a close reach. At that point tack the boat. Continue on a close reach and gradually go to a broad reach and start the whole process over again. Do it about 3 times. Actually you’ll find it to be so much fun you might want to keep doing it!!
Once you learn how easy it is to jibe, the fear is gone. Most mates don’t bother practicing anything. They wait until they get in the situation and then try to figure out what to do on the fly – then it is too late.
Maybe other forum listers have a better solution to help our brother sailor get over his fear of jibing?