Three years ago my wife and I purchased our first sailboat, a 1985 Catalina 22. New to sailing we've gotten relatively proficient sailing in light to moderate wind. We don't have a need to go fast, just enjoy being out on the water and away from it all. I'm looking for some advice on how to get over the fear of heeling. When we get caught by a gust of wind or catch to much wind when turning, the sudden heeling of boat nearly causes us to come unglued. (no laughing) I doubt the rub rail has ever been in the water (again, no laughing) but the admiral and I enjoy sailing, not the feeling that the end is near. Any advice?
Heeling
- Thread starter riprunwi
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Well.......the only thing I can think of is, familiarity breeds confidence.
Courage is being scaired to death,
and going for it anyway...
Now this is all coming from a true adrenaline junkie that has done some goofy things, just short of getting the net thrown over meself.
So anyway, the little Catalina will hold her own in a blow, you'd be surprised.
Start sheeting in those sails a little at a time in a windier situation, and put just a wee more heel in it than you usually would, and ride that way for a while. Slowly get used to it.
Before long, you'll be dragging the winches in the water...
Courage is being scaired to death,
and going for it anyway...
Now this is all coming from a true adrenaline junkie that has done some goofy things, just short of getting the net thrown over meself.
So anyway, the little Catalina will hold her own in a blow, you'd be surprised.
Start sheeting in those sails a little at a time in a windier situation, and put just a wee more heel in it than you usually would, and ride that way for a while. Slowly get used to it.
Before long, you'll be dragging the winches in the water...
After 2 seasons of sailing, I still fear the heel ,too. For me, it's due mostly to being in the water more than in the boat during that first season when I was learning to sail in a 14' dinghy.
I have been assured numerous times that the Catalina 22 is built to only get knocked down in blow so hard you wouldn't have left the dock anyway. I've heard it's more likely you'll fall out of the boat before you lay the mast down in the water. Like Chris said, just keep sheeting the main in a little more than is comfortable, and over time I hope we'll get used to heeling.
Understand also, that being heeled over is not good sailing. You see many boat, especially in races heeled way over, but they are really losing speed that way, not going faster.
Sailing flat is where it's at.
I have been assured numerous times that the Catalina 22 is built to only get knocked down in blow so hard you wouldn't have left the dock anyway. I've heard it's more likely you'll fall out of the boat before you lay the mast down in the water. Like Chris said, just keep sheeting the main in a little more than is comfortable, and over time I hope we'll get used to heeling.
Understand also, that being heeled over is not good sailing. You see many boat, especially in races heeled way over, but they are really losing speed that way, not going faster.
Sailing flat is where it's at.
15 degrees is typically optimal heel on a sailboat; its designed to sail there. You should work on this being comfortable. Do you have an inclanometer? It might help you to see where you really are. You mainsail is typically what is pushing you over... how do you trim it? Do you have it cleated in the mainsheet block, or is someone always on it, ready to feather it off to release pressure?
Hang in there.
Hang in there.
My suggestion is for you and your wife to learn as much about how the sails operate as you can get your hands on but much of the instructions that you see come from those that are telling you how to get the most out of your rigging and you aren't necessarily trying to do this in your situation.
I think that your example of turning comes to your issue nicely. If I'm understanding correctly, your rigging and sails would be set tight in and maximized for a close-hauled point of sail and when you turn towards a beam reach with out making any sail change, it heels too far. You need to have your sails set for a beam reach to limit that heeling.
So, learn to sail in all points of sail including learning the dangers of each point and how to control the sails. Understand the use of the jib cars that control sail twist, the main boom vang, the main sail's outhaul ....if you have a good one, the traveler and main sheet control, any other sail control system.....and have a good reefing plan. Many say that if reefing comes into your thoughts out there, you should have already reefed. Reefing does two things. It reduces the size of the sail and it lowers the center of effort for that sail...reducing the heeling factor. You can always add more sail later on out there when you're more comfortable.
As one suggestion, when the winds are up a bit but not too high, set up your rig with the main reefed and a smaller sized jib. Or sail with jib or main alone just to see what the boat will do and study how to best set that sail for each point of sail. It's much harder to make a serious mistake when you're sailing with less sails.
After reading your post I was like wow this is the same way me and my wife were about a year ago...we were both new to sailing and had never taken any lessons ...I had my boat Heeling over on her side taking on water 2 seperate times and was like Im over this..then I started reading and watching others following sail boats talking to sailors and I must say we now love to sail and know our limits.. Good luck and take it slow
The one thing that helped me was to look at other photos of heeled boats. When you are 'in' the boat, it feels much worse than it really is. Try looking at photos posted from some of the catalina 22 regattas and you will see that, even when heeled, there is still quite a suffficient amount of boat still in the water.
I've been sailing a "Shark 24" for many years. I always have the mainsheet in my hand. When I am sailing w/nervous friends aboard and we start to heel beyond their comfort level, I just let out on the main and dump the wind. They are shocked and pleased to see how quickly we "Straighten Up", then they get used to it.
heeling - in the eyes of the beholder (mostly)
compared to other sailboats I have owned
this C-22 seems to handle much heeling
with no real problem
except
things in the cabin get tossed around much
have had the water up the sides
close to coming in
good time to stop and start over
sailing seems best
with a slight heeling
compared to other sailboats I have owned
this C-22 seems to handle much heeling
with no real problem
except
things in the cabin get tossed around much
have had the water up the sides
close to coming in
good time to stop and start over
sailing seems best
with a slight heeling
riprunwi: The quickest way to get your boat back on it's feet is to drop the traveler down towards the water - that's the easist way for me to describe what to do. What you're doing is changing the ANGLE OF ATTACK and depowering the boat. Your boat may not have a big enough traveler. There are two mainsail sail trim controls for angle of attack and they are the traveler and the mainsheet. If your traveler is ineffective go to the mainsheet.
The reason I prefer the traveler is that when you use that sail trim control you don't change the shape of the sail. Picture your screen door with a pin in the corner that rides in a track on the floor. When you open and close the screen door does the shape of the screen change? Of course it doesn't. Same with the mainsail.So when you're hit with a puff you drop the traveler, the boats comes back on its feet and when the puff passes you adjust the traveler to its original position and sail merrily on your way. The shape of the sail hasn't changed trough the process.
The mainsheet is a sail trim control that's used in conjunction with other controls to adjust TWIST & DRAFT DEPTH and you only want to get the boat back on it's feet and not be messing with those element but it might be what your stuck with.
You need to follow Bilbo's advise. You need to know what each sail trim control for the main and jib are adjusting and it happens to be only 4 things - draft deepth, draft position, twist and angle of attack. You need to have a complete understand of those 4 elements or sail trim will never make any sense to you.
The reason I prefer the traveler is that when you use that sail trim control you don't change the shape of the sail. Picture your screen door with a pin in the corner that rides in a track on the floor. When you open and close the screen door does the shape of the screen change? Of course it doesn't. Same with the mainsail.So when you're hit with a puff you drop the traveler, the boats comes back on its feet and when the puff passes you adjust the traveler to its original position and sail merrily on your way. The shape of the sail hasn't changed trough the process.
The mainsheet is a sail trim control that's used in conjunction with other controls to adjust TWIST & DRAFT DEPTH and you only want to get the boat back on it's feet and not be messing with those element but it might be what your stuck with.
You need to follow Bilbo's advise. You need to know what each sail trim control for the main and jib are adjusting and it happens to be only 4 things - draft deepth, draft position, twist and angle of attack. You need to have a complete understand of those 4 elements or sail trim will never make any sense to you.
Two of the best tools I have for dealing with puffs that cause unanticipated heeling are my eyes and the tiller.
Learn how to read when a gust is going to hit you by looking at the surface of the water to windward. As a puff works its way toward you, the surface of water will appear blacker than the part of the surface that's not reacting to a gust. You can usually spot these several hundred yards off, and have time to prepare to react.
My sailing instructor, who's had decades of experience, both blue water cruising and racing, taught me when close-hauled, to steer into the puff, just a little, to spill some air and depower the sail, then steer right back to your compass point.
If I'm getting hit on a beam or broad reach, I let the mainsheet out a little. My traveler control lines are located on the transom, and are not easy to get to fast enough to react to a sudden gust.
Hope this is helpful.
Learn how to read when a gust is going to hit you by looking at the surface of the water to windward. As a puff works its way toward you, the surface of water will appear blacker than the part of the surface that's not reacting to a gust. You can usually spot these several hundred yards off, and have time to prepare to react.
My sailing instructor, who's had decades of experience, both blue water cruising and racing, taught me when close-hauled, to steer into the puff, just a little, to spill some air and depower the sail, then steer right back to your compass point.
If I'm getting hit on a beam or broad reach, I let the mainsheet out a little. My traveler control lines are located on the transom, and are not easy to get to fast enough to react to a sudden gust.
Hope this is helpful.
curious
You do not say which head-sail your using. The C22 being a head-sail driven boat, using too large a head sail might also be contributing to your excessive heeling.
If one of you could get out of the cockpit you might over come the fear faster. That is sitting on the high side of the cabin top.
You do not say which head-sail your using. The C22 being a head-sail driven boat, using too large a head sail might also be contributing to your excessive heeling.
If one of you could get out of the cockpit you might over come the fear faster. That is sitting on the high side of the cabin top.
Re: curious
I agree with Ken, and others. As a full rig sailboat, the power is provided by the headsail. If you have a furling rig on the headsail, you can quickly and effectively reduce the headsail area by winching in the sheet. If not, changing headsails is easily done, even on a heaving deck in a large blow. Nowadays I'm somewhat lazy and LOVE my furler !! If the wind still blows, think about reefing in the main also then heading for shelter. Happy sailing mate...
I agree with Ken, and others. As a full rig sailboat, the power is provided by the headsail. If you have a furling rig on the headsail, you can quickly and effectively reduce the headsail area by winching in the sheet. If not, changing headsails is easily done, even on a heaving deck in a large blow. Nowadays I'm somewhat lazy and LOVE my furler !! If the wind still blows, think about reefing in the main also then heading for shelter. Happy sailing mate...
There are a lot of great suggestions here.
If i could point out somethings.
1) The C22 Traveler isn't much for traveling. I've found that it does help some BUT if it's not enough to keep the boat up, it may be necessary under some situations to drop the main sheet and / or the jib sheet some to keep the boat up. I use the boom vang more for keeping the boom down and a Boom-kicker for lifting the boom. With the C22 that I have, If the main sheet is pulling hard on the boom then the traveler car gets kinda jammed in place.
2) GorillaToast mentions the puffs. His instructor is right and that we can learn to spot them on the water. After some experience, I've found that the puffs on my lake come in pairs and they "clock". That is to say that if the general winds are coming from a 1:00 position, the puff may come from 2:00 or so. This makes a difference in your point of sail -Port tack and stbd. tack because a puff may cause you to heel more OR to stall if you aren't prepared to react to this clocking effect. The second puff on my lake is also generally the stronger one.
3) Another factor....Is your significant other interested in learning? Working together can be a big benefit to the safety of each other. For example, my wife isn't all that into the finer points of sailing but at times she really enjoys steering the boat and this frees me up to play with the sail trim and to study the winds. What I have to be careful about is barking orders at her or appearing as if I'm even trying to teach her. I don't blame her as I"d hate that sort of experience.....Suggestions seem to work though.
If i could point out somethings.
1) The C22 Traveler isn't much for traveling. I've found that it does help some BUT if it's not enough to keep the boat up, it may be necessary under some situations to drop the main sheet and / or the jib sheet some to keep the boat up. I use the boom vang more for keeping the boom down and a Boom-kicker for lifting the boom. With the C22 that I have, If the main sheet is pulling hard on the boom then the traveler car gets kinda jammed in place.
2) GorillaToast mentions the puffs. His instructor is right and that we can learn to spot them on the water. After some experience, I've found that the puffs on my lake come in pairs and they "clock". That is to say that if the general winds are coming from a 1:00 position, the puff may come from 2:00 or so. This makes a difference in your point of sail -Port tack and stbd. tack because a puff may cause you to heel more OR to stall if you aren't prepared to react to this clocking effect. The second puff on my lake is also generally the stronger one.
3) Another factor....Is your significant other interested in learning? Working together can be a big benefit to the safety of each other. For example, my wife isn't all that into the finer points of sailing but at times she really enjoys steering the boat and this frees me up to play with the sail trim and to study the winds. What I have to be careful about is barking orders at her or appearing as if I'm even trying to teach her. I don't blame her as I"d hate that sort of experience.....Suggestions seem to work though.
Speed is good!
You’re saying that you want to go at a slow speed but, when you tack you’re going at a very slow speed and that is when you’re heeling the most and the two of you become unglued. I’m not talking about going from 50 mph to 70 mph, we’re talking 2 to 4 mph!
When these fellows tell you to pull your sails tighter you’re going to pick up speed. When the boat is moving as fast as it can go for the wind conditions the better the keel will work in keeping you from heeling, also with more speed you can control the hull faster and hold a better line for higher angles into the shifting and gusting wind as these other fellows have said. Speed is good! Slow is bad!
Work on getting your hull, keel and rudder as smooth as possible, this will help the boat to go faster.
Never tack when you’re going slow, if slow, turn off the wind to build speed before tacking.
Never let the head sail backwind, that's like applying the brakes especially going into or during a tack.
To reduce heel coming out of a tack, let the head sail flog a little, use only the main sail to get going again and then pull in the head sail slowly as speed increases.
Learn to sail your boat as fast as it can go!
Speed is good! Slow is bad!
Let me add something off the wall. I’ve had two heart attacks and I attend a wellness exercise class twice a week at my local hospital. They check my blood pressure before and after each class and my pressure is always lower after than before. I’ve noticed a number of times that my beginning blood pressure is much lower after a big weekend sailing on the wilder waters of the Chesapeake Bay than when living my everyday life and sailing on a small lake as yours. So, that fear, that increased heart rate is good! just like speed is good!
You’re saying that you want to go at a slow speed but, when you tack you’re going at a very slow speed and that is when you’re heeling the most and the two of you become unglued. I’m not talking about going from 50 mph to 70 mph, we’re talking 2 to 4 mph!
When these fellows tell you to pull your sails tighter you’re going to pick up speed. When the boat is moving as fast as it can go for the wind conditions the better the keel will work in keeping you from heeling, also with more speed you can control the hull faster and hold a better line for higher angles into the shifting and gusting wind as these other fellows have said. Speed is good! Slow is bad!
Work on getting your hull, keel and rudder as smooth as possible, this will help the boat to go faster.
Never tack when you’re going slow, if slow, turn off the wind to build speed before tacking.
Never let the head sail backwind, that's like applying the brakes especially going into or during a tack.
To reduce heel coming out of a tack, let the head sail flog a little, use only the main sail to get going again and then pull in the head sail slowly as speed increases.
Learn to sail your boat as fast as it can go!
Speed is good! Slow is bad!
Let me add something off the wall. I’ve had two heart attacks and I attend a wellness exercise class twice a week at my local hospital. They check my blood pressure before and after each class and my pressure is always lower after than before. I’ve noticed a number of times that my beginning blood pressure is much lower after a big weekend sailing on the wilder waters of the Chesapeake Bay than when living my everyday life and sailing on a small lake as yours. So, that fear, that increased heart rate is good! just like speed is good!
Re: Speed is good!
Here's why heeling is bad even though it looks trick to see boats heeled over past 25 degress with folks hanging off the side and where you can see the barnacles on the keel and rudder. The thing that powers a sailboat is LIFT. Lift comes from 3 things -- the sails, rudder and keel. When the boat is heeled way over they are losing lift from two elements, which are the keel and rudder. In fact, if you had two totally evenly matched boats sailing head to head and one is heeled over past 25 degrees and the other boat is at 15 degrees, the 15 degree boat will beat the other boat every time.
Another item involves the rudder. Some sailors like a neutral rudder. The rudder when neutral is not producing lift so one element of lift is missing. What a mate should do is induce about 5 degrees of rudder from neutral to get the rudder to produce lift.
Riprunwi, there have been a lot of suggestions listed here. My suggestion is that you make a list and try all of them and see which ones work for you. When I was researching for my book I ran into a sailing article in a sailing mag about some subject. The contents sounded logical. About 3 days later I found an article on the same subject in another mag by Buddy Melges. They were totally opposite!!! I decided to try both -- Buddy Melges was right
Here's why heeling is bad even though it looks trick to see boats heeled over past 25 degress with folks hanging off the side and where you can see the barnacles on the keel and rudder. The thing that powers a sailboat is LIFT. Lift comes from 3 things -- the sails, rudder and keel. When the boat is heeled way over they are losing lift from two elements, which are the keel and rudder. In fact, if you had two totally evenly matched boats sailing head to head and one is heeled over past 25 degrees and the other boat is at 15 degrees, the 15 degree boat will beat the other boat every time.
Another item involves the rudder. Some sailors like a neutral rudder. The rudder when neutral is not producing lift so one element of lift is missing. What a mate should do is induce about 5 degrees of rudder from neutral to get the rudder to produce lift.
Riprunwi, there have been a lot of suggestions listed here. My suggestion is that you make a list and try all of them and see which ones work for you. When I was researching for my book I ran into a sailing article in a sailing mag about some subject. The contents sounded logical. About 3 days later I found an article on the same subject in another mag by Buddy Melges. They were totally opposite!!! I decided to try both -- Buddy Melges was right
another point
One other thing you haven't said (other than the age of your boat) the age of your sails. Sailing with blow out sails is just no fun. All your controls will help a little but that's all just a little, in light winds you'll be fast. But let the wind pipe up and your in for a tough ride.....
If you don't know the condition of your sails you might find a local loft, take them in ask for advise.
Soft material no crisp sound........ more than likely blown out.
One other thing you haven't said (other than the age of your boat) the age of your sails. Sailing with blow out sails is just no fun. All your controls will help a little but that's all just a little, in light winds you'll be fast. But let the wind pipe up and your in for a tough ride.....
If you don't know the condition of your sails you might find a local loft, take them in ask for advise.
Soft material no crisp sound........ more than likely blown out.
A lot of great advice. Thank you to everyone who responded to my question. We can't wait for spring to work on all the suggestions. We know we have much to learn. Being able to minimize unintended heeling will be a welcomed relief.
When in doubt, let 'em out.
Sheets that is.
If you have your sails sheeted in tight, the higher the point of sail, the greater the heel.
Heeling 15 degrees in a Cat 22 is perfect, 20 degrees is OK, 25 is too much.
If you are constantly heeling more than 25 degrees, first depower the mainsail by flattening it (max cunnigham or halyard, outhaul, vang, and back stay. If you are still heeling excessively, reduce sail area.
If you are only heeling occasionally to 25 degrees or beyond, just ease the mainsheet to twist off the sail and spill wind. On a gusty day, put the mainsheet in the most frightened crew members hand, and tell them if they are getting nervous to jsut ease it out. When one realizes they have complete control over the amount of heel, then it becomes far less frightening.
Before you know it, you'll be washing your windows regularly, just for the fun of it.
Sheets that is.
If you have your sails sheeted in tight, the higher the point of sail, the greater the heel.
Heeling 15 degrees in a Cat 22 is perfect, 20 degrees is OK, 25 is too much.
If you are constantly heeling more than 25 degrees, first depower the mainsail by flattening it (max cunnigham or halyard, outhaul, vang, and back stay. If you are still heeling excessively, reduce sail area.
If you are only heeling occasionally to 25 degrees or beyond, just ease the mainsheet to twist off the sail and spill wind. On a gusty day, put the mainsheet in the most frightened crew members hand, and tell them if they are getting nervous to jsut ease it out. When one realizes they have complete control over the amount of heel, then it becomes far less frightening.
Before you know it, you'll be washing your windows regularly, just for the fun of it.
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