Heaving to on a Hunter 260

[John Kagan]

I recently took a test sail on a Hunter 260 and tried to heave to and found that the boat kept falling out and not holding it's place. I think it may be because the jib is small and underpowered and the large mainsail would drive it out of position. Does anyone have advice to successfully heave to in a Hunter 260?

 

[Alan]

Depends on the winds....

.....and if your keel is down. Not sure what you mean by falling off, tacking or being pushed away from the wind? Assuming that you are heaved to, the main sail should not be fully filled. I usually find that it is best to be making almost no headway, luff the main, back wind the jib when it is sheeted in as far as possible ( by tacking), then throw the tiller leeward (eventually lashing it there). I adjust the main to the wind conditions. If you allow the main to fill too much, then you will tack (potentially dangerous here). It takes practice, all boats are different. When it's very windy, I have the main reefed. alan

 

[Mark]

bit hard

We find that without a travelller it is very difficult if not impossible to heave to. Our smallest yacht an 18'6" has a traveller and we can heave to with ease. No the same with our 260 WB.

 

[Wanderer138]

Swept back spreaders may be the problem

It sounds like the spreaders may be preventing you from easing the main all the way out. When hove-to, the mainsail should be luffing. You can also try adjusting the jib (sheeting in more or easing it) for more effect. As a last resort, you may have to reef the main to balance the sailplan.PeterH23 "Raven"

 

[Alan]

Good thought but no Peter.

The swept back spreaders have never been a problem when I heave to. However, "sailing by the lee" is suicidal without a preventer and running is not very efficient. alan