If getting thrown out of bars is involved...
First time out in 10+
- Thread starter GGordonWoody
- Start date
That my green friend was NEVER a question, it's a rite of passage. (Where's Ralph?)
Woody,
Hang in there and don't give up. We have all been there. Our first time out in winds like that was one hell of a ride as well. I went back and read chapter two which covered how to reef a sail LOL! Now we much prefer winds 10 plus to winds less than 10. When there are white caps we just reef before we leave the slip, can always shake it out later. We pull out enough jib to balance the boat and then have fun actually sailing. We almost find sailing in less than 10 frustrating at times due to all the shifty winds on our lake.
Sounds like your wife is onboard with you and sailing and that means alot. Congrats to you. We are lucky men! Can you only imagine how your story would have read if your wife was not?
I predict the two of you learn from this and will be out slicing through white caps in no time!!!
Sam
Hang in there and don't give up. We have all been there. Our first time out in winds like that was one hell of a ride as well. I went back and read chapter two which covered how to reef a sail LOL! Now we much prefer winds 10 plus to winds less than 10. When there are white caps we just reef before we leave the slip, can always shake it out later. We pull out enough jib to balance the boat and then have fun actually sailing. We almost find sailing in less than 10 frustrating at times due to all the shifty winds on our lake.
Sounds like your wife is onboard with you and sailing and that means alot. Congrats to you. We are lucky men! Can you only imagine how your story would have read if your wife was not?
I predict the two of you learn from this and will be out slicing through white caps in no time!!!
Sam
Ive got a stopper knot in the jib sheet and its staying. The sheet is long enough that I can dump the sail in any direction Im going. Ive had to try and retrieve one in high wind and thats no good. Stopper knot in spinnaker sheet, not so good. One must be able to dump a spinnaker and the sheet would be too long to make that practical with a stopper knot.
The double overhand knot posted previously is a good knot- large stopper and easy to tie. The disadvantage is it doesnt like to come apart once its been jammed tight.
The double overhand knot posted previously is a good knot- large stopper and easy to tie. The disadvantage is it doesnt like to come apart once its been jammed tight.
Always have stopper knots. Once took a near knockdown, the boat came up turned the other way to the wind and the un-knotted sheet came loose. I'm by myself and trying to retrieve that line in order to gain some control in 60 knot winds without going over the side was daunting, to say the least. My sheets are long enough that I can let the jib fly and still have them at the ready. Lazy sheet is always loosely coiled with two wraps around the winch ready to go a moments notice and keeps it in the boat. On smaller diameter lines, like a furling, line I wrap the bitter end around the standing part two to three times before completing the figure eight. Makes it much easier to untie that small dia. line.
Say, thank you for all that info, it was exactly what I was hoping to learn. Next up it to go out with a real sailor to see what perfect looks like! And I think I'm pickin' up what you layin' down there, "No 1!" Got it! LOL
I was hoping the subject of stopper knot would come up. The H235 deck hardware consists of exactly two small deck-mounted swivel blocks, one on each side of the mast. No cars(sp?), or anything like that. My fear was that a stopper knot on the end of a loose sheet going 100mph through that block would just shear it off. But maybe not, since I now see other's suggesting it. One thing for sure, I'm getting some work gloves. And excellent advice on winching the furling line! Thanks man.
I'm seeing pattern here...like kids on ice daring to get closer and closer to the melting edge. It's all fun until somebody's brand new corduroy coat gets soaked! Thanks man.
I don't think a loose jib sheet would have enough force to rip out the swivel block, but you could check the mounting plate if it is visible. I assume there is quite a bit of stress on it in a strong wind, though not as much as a sudden impulse as if it were jerked. The PO of my 23 added tracks with adjustable sheet cars, so I don't use the factory swivel blocks. I do use figure 8 knots.
Look for sailing gloves online - there are probably no places to find any up near lake Wallenpaupack (though you could try Lighthouse).
Look for sailing gloves online - there are probably no places to find any up near lake Wallenpaupack (though you could try Lighthouse).
I bought my gloves from an enormous selection at the local Ace Hardware. Much cheaper, and equivalent to, many of the sailing gloves I found at the marine stores. I'm not gonna cry so much if I lose one or both of a $10 pair of gloves.
After that trip you just posted, I'll consider it an order. I was feeling a little down, but man, you're sail was really inspiring. One positive to come out of our "maneuvers" was a feel for how sure footed this little boat is. Maybe our definition is a bit skewed, but I don't think we couldn't have laid the boat down if we tried. Amazing. Hitting the books on MOB. Thanks.
Yeah, I found myself mouthing the plan for a downwind recovery, but no contingency without a jib. Maybe back-winding main alone is only possible with a traveler?
If you're in a position of a sheet travelling at 100mph, I would think that you've got MUCH bigger things to worry about than a block getting wrecked. Control the sail. The sheets are not the issue here, the sail is, and if it's that out of control that the sheets are doing that, the situation is a serious danger to everybody on board.
We will! Your video demonstrated, in the hands of a qualified skipper, an H235 can survive in 20+. So what's a few whitecaps riding along on some boat chop, right? We were sailing! At times, upwind felt slow on main alone, but I wasn't about to start trimming for speed without tell tales or boat speed indication. And then, it was God passing on the right, maybe we were flying! Only wish I had a picture, but there was no way we were going to drop (another) Samsung galaxy in the drink. That lake out here is long, skinny, and curves from 0N to about 60N. It's great for learning, and with Summer slipping away, school will be in session! Thanks for the encouragement.
Thank you sir. I have some friends down your way this week - non sailors. Are there any commercial (or otherwise) skippers that could take them on a 2-3 hour sailing experience?
Thanks Kermie. She's unflappable, perfect at the helm, and waay cheaper than an autopilot. Plus, it keeps her behind the boom. By comparison, I'm outright neurotic, looking at everything...except the important stuff. It's frustrating because I want it to be perfect, and automatic, but then, wham, "Oops Upside Your Head"!