Last weekend I had a moment on my 380. I was having a great sail on port phillip when I was hit by a wind gust. I was on a port tack in around 15-20 knots when I was hit. I tried to steer of the wind ( because there was small sailboat race to starboard )but the 380 just wanted to go into the wind, the rudder was useless. All I could do was let her go into the wind and reef the headsail. I then found sailing her difficult with the reefed headsail ( 135% ) Being new to sailing large Catalina's Im sure I did the wrong thing. Should I have reefed or just dropped the Mainsail, or reef them both? What was the correct action to take? any advise would help for the next time.
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Blair Dehuff
Rounding Up
Wayne, It sounds like you heeled over far enough to render the rudder ineffective, causing you to round up. This happened to me once when I was sailing on a close reach with full main and a slightly reefed jib (135% genoa) in 25 to 30 kts true wind, and I was suddenly hit with a 40 knot gust from broadside. Too much sail up for that, and my C350 was just overpowered. If I had reefed earlier, especially the main sail, I would have been ok. Boats do what they naturally want to do in those situations and head into the wind, which is good because it quickly spills the wind from your sails. As long as it is safe to for you to head up, I think its better than bearing off if your boat feels only semi-controllable. I would bear off only if I have the boat under complete control.
Wayne, It sounds like you heeled over far enough to render the rudder ineffective, causing you to round up. This happened to me once when I was sailing on a close reach with full main and a slightly reefed jib (135% genoa) in 25 to 30 kts true wind, and I was suddenly hit with a 40 knot gust from broadside. Too much sail up for that, and my C350 was just overpowered. If I had reefed earlier, especially the main sail, I would have been ok. Boats do what they naturally want to do in those situations and head into the wind, which is good because it quickly spills the wind from your sails. As long as it is safe to for you to head up, I think its better than bearing off if your boat feels only semi-controllable. I would bear off only if I have the boat under complete control.
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Wayne Elphinstone
Thanks Blair Its nice to know someone had the same drama. I thought reefing the main would have been the best move, but when your heading straight into on-coming catermarans I guess panic sets in. The lesson I learnt here is to always have plenty of room for these situations. How do you set your sails for 20 plus winds? Thanks again.
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PHIL
ALL BALANCE DIFFERENTLY
I FOUND THAT MY 350 IS PRETTY BALANCED WITH JUST THE 135 JIB AND NO MAIN IN HEAVY WIND. I WAS VERY SUPRISED. I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE TO STEER THE BOAT IT JUST SEEMED TO STAY ON TRACK TACKING INTO THE WIND.
I FOUND THAT MY 350 IS PRETTY BALANCED WITH JUST THE 135 JIB AND NO MAIN IN HEAVY WIND. I WAS VERY SUPRISED. I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE TO STEER THE BOAT IT JUST SEEMED TO STAY ON TRACK TACKING INTO THE WIND.
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Blair Dehuff
Headsail Power
Wayne, I have a C350 not a 380, so our respective boats probably balance a bit differently. I usually have 4 or 5 wraps on the headsail furler plus enough mainsail (usually 1/2 to 3/4) for balance in 20kts + winds. This is conservative, I know. However, my wife does not like to heel over very much and we usually are sailing in very gusty conditions on an alpine lake where the wind frequently changes from 10-20kts up to 30kts+ very suddenly. So, we more a less have to keep the sails reefed for the gusts rather than steady winds (of which there aren't many).
Wayne, I have a C350 not a 380, so our respective boats probably balance a bit differently. I usually have 4 or 5 wraps on the headsail furler plus enough mainsail (usually 1/2 to 3/4) for balance in 20kts + winds. This is conservative, I know. However, my wife does not like to heel over very much and we usually are sailing in very gusty conditions on an alpine lake where the wind frequently changes from 10-20kts up to 30kts+ very suddenly. So, we more a less have to keep the sails reefed for the gusts rather than steady winds (of which there aren't many).
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Ken
Ease the sheets in gusts
If you are getting overpowered in gusts-ease the sheets-If you take the pressure off the sails you will flatten the boat back up and your rudder will be more efficent, lower your traveler to leeward in heavy air. Also if winds are sustained and heavy-Reef the main and/or Jib depending on which works better on your boat-you need to experiment with both. Fairwinds! Ken
If you are getting overpowered in gusts-ease the sheets-If you take the pressure off the sails you will flatten the boat back up and your rudder will be more efficent, lower your traveler to leeward in heavy air. Also if winds are sustained and heavy-Reef the main and/or Jib depending on which works better on your boat-you need to experiment with both. Fairwinds! Ken
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Mick
Headsail Power
The jib will not cause the boat to round up into the wind, it is the mainsail that causes that in stronger winds. If you would have eased the main sheet you could have bore off slightly, as the jib would have induced "lee helm". Generally when the boat is overpowered, and you are beating, the main is the first sail to reduce sail area on. If the first reef in the main isn't enough, then reduce the jib. If you are still overpowered, a second reef in the main, then shorten the jib again.
The jib will not cause the boat to round up into the wind, it is the mainsail that causes that in stronger winds. If you would have eased the main sheet you could have bore off slightly, as the jib would have induced "lee helm". Generally when the boat is overpowered, and you are beating, the main is the first sail to reduce sail area on. If the first reef in the main isn't enough, then reduce the jib. If you are still overpowered, a second reef in the main, then shorten the jib again.
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Wayne Elphinstone
Thanks to you all, I have some experimenting to do. I did notice once that the boat does perform very well with just the headsail, I will have a play next week. I will let you know how I go. Best Regards Wayne
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