Does anybody out there have experiance, or had interesting experiances, attempting to heave to in a 26S,C,or D? I have tried several times, but have yet to achieve the desired result. I backwind the jib,sheet the main as if it were close hauled and lash the tiller to leeward. What is suppose to happen, of course, is that the sails counterbalance each other and the boat drifts slowly forward and leeward while the crew takes a break. What usually happens with me is the bow falls off to leeward and the boat completes a rapid 180, followed buy a jibe if I'm not carefull. The boat has a rollerfurling genoa, and I suspect that I may need to furl more of the sail. Any ideas?
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Sail Set
How wise to figure this out before you really need it... sounds like your headsail is overpowering your mainsail and your rudder. Is this headsail a 100%? I have done this successfully on my D (hove to) but I have an IdaSailor rudder, if it makes a difference here.. John S
How wise to figure this out before you really need it... sounds like your headsail is overpowering your mainsail and your rudder. Is this headsail a 100%? I have done this successfully on my D (hove to) but I have an IdaSailor rudder, if it makes a difference here.. John S
RE: Sail Set
John,It hink my genoa is 150%. I'm sure that I had it furled-in somewhat when I attempted to heave to. From what I've read, I would think that your IdaSalior rudder would make a difference. I'm jealous, I want one.
John,It hink my genoa is 150%. I'm sure that I had it furled-in somewhat when I attempted to heave to. From what I've read, I would think that your IdaSalior rudder would make a difference. I'm jealous, I want one.
I don't know about heaving to for a break, but in a blow with swells it is to keep the bow oriented to the wind and swells. If the wind is coming from port, a small storm jib should be pulled to port and secured. A small sail should be sheeted to a starboard stern cleat (reduces all boom swing and maintains balance), and the tiller handle secured all the way to starboard. You can use a small storm sail and secure its foot to the mast. This is not done with full sails in a blow. In your case it appears you need to tighten jib, or reduce it since your jib is overpowering both the rudder and the main, just like John suggests. In any event, if you're making headway, once the bow swings to windward, the jib should lose power quickly and the rudder and main take over.
ease the jib sheet
It's a balancing act, and having such a large jib is definitely working against you. Try to reduce the size of your jib...maybe furling it in halfway if your furler is easy to operate. Or let the sheet out so that the sail creates a "bag", thus reducing the amount of area it presents to the wind. Your mainsheet should be very slack, just tight enough to keep the main sail from flogging. Also the tiller should be all the way down, that is, to leeward. Thus the rudder (and to a small extent the main) is trying to turn you into the wind and your jib is gently pushing you off the wind. Also, the stronger the wind, the harder it is to achieve and maintain balance (heave to).
It's a balancing act, and having such a large jib is definitely working against you. Try to reduce the size of your jib...maybe furling it in halfway if your furler is easy to operate. Or let the sheet out so that the sail creates a "bag", thus reducing the amount of area it presents to the wind. Your mainsheet should be very slack, just tight enough to keep the main sail from flogging. Also the tiller should be all the way down, that is, to leeward. Thus the rudder (and to a small extent the main) is trying to turn you into the wind and your jib is gently pushing you off the wind. Also, the stronger the wind, the harder it is to achieve and maintain balance (heave to).
RE heaving to
Thanks for the suggestions! I think for sure I need to reduce the jib. I think Mike also hit on some thing. I usually attempt this in strong gusty winds(the kind we have most often in MT). The bow usually falls of so fast thatI don't end up having any time to tinker with stuff. I need to play with this next year on a light air day. And Bob,thanks for the port tack reminder.
Thanks for the suggestions! I think for sure I need to reduce the jib. I think Mike also hit on some thing. I usually attempt this in strong gusty winds(the kind we have most often in MT). The bow usually falls of so fast thatI don't end up having any time to tinker with stuff. I need to play with this next year on a light air day. And Bob,thanks for the port tack reminder.
Parking Brake
When hove-to, our M26D parked herself like she had brakes on. All we ever did was turn through the wind, without touching any sheets, and hold the tiller to leeward. She would round up, stop, and start slowly drifting sideways with the wind slightly ahead of the beam. This was with either our working jib or 150 genoa, fully unfurled. I once had a very seasoned Navy sailing instructor tell me to heave-to immediately upon a man-overboard. He had to teach the separate techniques for each point of sail, but personally recommended to always heave-to. I figure it's the easiest thing to teach our guests to do should I fall overboard. This way the boat will park relatively close to the victim. Many will argue, but I liked his reasoning and now show guests how to heave-to soon after sails are set. Every boat balances differently and Bob Cassel is correct about you possibly over-sheeting your main. Try heaving-to without touching any sheets. Also, you may be waiting too long to throw the tiller to leeward. Do so as soon as the jib is backwinded. Once hove-to you can play with the main sheet and tiller to steady things up.
When hove-to, our M26D parked herself like she had brakes on. All we ever did was turn through the wind, without touching any sheets, and hold the tiller to leeward. She would round up, stop, and start slowly drifting sideways with the wind slightly ahead of the beam. This was with either our working jib or 150 genoa, fully unfurled. I once had a very seasoned Navy sailing instructor tell me to heave-to immediately upon a man-overboard. He had to teach the separate techniques for each point of sail, but personally recommended to always heave-to. I figure it's the easiest thing to teach our guests to do should I fall overboard. This way the boat will park relatively close to the victim. Many will argue, but I liked his reasoning and now show guests how to heave-to soon after sails are set. Every boat balances differently and Bob Cassel is correct about you possibly over-sheeting your main. Try heaving-to without touching any sheets. Also, you may be waiting too long to throw the tiller to leeward. Do so as soon as the jib is backwinded. Once hove-to you can play with the main sheet and tiller to steady things up.
montana sailing & heaving to
To John S: I live in Red Lodge, Close to the WY border, and about 4 hours from Yellowstone Lake. I have not sailed Flathead Lake, but I have been there, before I was a sailor, and it is gorgeous! It is on my list. Flathead has a good mix of wild beauty and civilization. If you are looking for an occasional marina stop and a nice restaurant, Flathead would be a better choice. I read a good article about sailing Flathead in either "Good Old Boat" or "Small Craft Advisor". You could find back issues on their websites, and if you haven't seen these mags you may want to subscribe. I have sailed Yellowstone Lake several times, starting with my first sailboat,a Grummon canoe. I day sailed a few more times in my 14 ft dinghy, but have only had the Mac out once for an overnighter. Yellowstone is wild and beautiful, but the park service has lots of rules. They made me reserve a back country campsite, even though I was sleeping in the boat, and I had to anchor at the campsite. This limits you somewhat as not all of the campsites have good anchorages. On the other hand, there are few boaters out on the lake, and you can really get away from people if that is your goal. To Bob Cassel and Dana, you have given me food for thought. I am going to reread this stuff next spring and go give it a whirl! Thanks for the advice.
To John S: I live in Red Lodge, Close to the WY border, and about 4 hours from Yellowstone Lake. I have not sailed Flathead Lake, but I have been there, before I was a sailor, and it is gorgeous! It is on my list. Flathead has a good mix of wild beauty and civilization. If you are looking for an occasional marina stop and a nice restaurant, Flathead would be a better choice. I read a good article about sailing Flathead in either "Good Old Boat" or "Small Craft Advisor". You could find back issues on their websites, and if you haven't seen these mags you may want to subscribe. I have sailed Yellowstone Lake several times, starting with my first sailboat,a Grummon canoe. I day sailed a few more times in my 14 ft dinghy, but have only had the Mac out once for an overnighter. Yellowstone is wild and beautiful, but the park service has lots of rules. They made me reserve a back country campsite, even though I was sleeping in the boat, and I had to anchor at the campsite. This limits you somewhat as not all of the campsites have good anchorages. On the other hand, there are few boaters out on the lake, and you can really get away from people if that is your goal. To Bob Cassel and Dana, you have given me food for thought. I am going to reread this stuff next spring and go give it a whirl! Thanks for the advice.
Pull in the Genoa
Blake, I think the problem is the genoa. Try furling to 100%, so that the jib can fully backwind and depower the main. This is really easy. Just don't change the jib sheeting when you tack. Steer just off the wind.
Blake, I think the problem is the genoa. Try furling to 100%, so that the jib can fully backwind and depower the main. This is really easy. Just don't change the jib sheeting when you tack. Steer just off the wind.
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