I sailed my boat today in high winds for the first time. I guess I should have known better after NOT seeing anyone else on the river sailing. The avid Hobie sailer I am wind doesn't really bother me. Today it did. i was single handing the boat in 20 knot winds. I finally gave up on the headsail which is a 135 genoa. I had a very difficult time trying to sail up wind. I had way to much weather helm, and went thru the normal drills I do when sailng other boats. Tighten the main. let out the traveler, I even tightened the backstay. My first of several questions is How much wind is really to much for this boat? The darn thing healed over way to much. About 20 degrees with only the jib at a 60 degree angle off wind. My sail also doesn't have any battens, they were missing when I purchased the boat. Do I need them in? How good is the backstay adjustment? Should I move the jib cars all the way forward in these conditions? Does anyone else eat jelly beans while sailing? Thanks to everyone that has provided me with information to my many previous posts. I am sure as the days continue I will have many more Gary Adams Illinois
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Ken Shubert
Storm Jib!
I've suffered the same problems with an H23.5. A new storm jib really helps a lot. It just won't point high enough to make any headway into the wind with main alone. It's a frustrating and tiring problem and after an hour you wonder why you ever tried it. The next thing to do is add a second reefing point on the main because above 20kts it's still over sailed going down wind. Seeing the bow dive under isn't my idea of fun sailing! If you don't go out and try it, you'll never know what works. Lots of very experienced and helpful sailors can explain things but you just gotta' feel it. Ken S/V Wouff Hong
I've suffered the same problems with an H23.5. A new storm jib really helps a lot. It just won't point high enough to make any headway into the wind with main alone. It's a frustrating and tiring problem and after an hour you wonder why you ever tried it. The next thing to do is add a second reefing point on the main because above 20kts it's still over sailed going down wind. Seeing the bow dive under isn't my idea of fun sailing! If you don't go out and try it, you'll never know what works. Lots of very experienced and helpful sailors can explain things but you just gotta' feel it. Ken S/V Wouff Hong
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Glen S
enjoy it !
Gary, I also was out today in a h23 and had a great time. A small storm jib will make a world of difference in your high wind performance, but will not help with the heeling much. The h23 heels quite a bit but sails very well in high winds. You can play the mainsheet out in puffs or move the traveler down when needed and if you do get caught the boat rounds into the wind very nicely. Dip the rail in the water and have some fun!
Gary, I also was out today in a h23 and had a great time. A small storm jib will make a world of difference in your high wind performance, but will not help with the heeling much. The h23 heels quite a bit but sails very well in high winds. You can play the mainsheet out in puffs or move the traveler down when needed and if you do get caught the boat rounds into the wind very nicely. Dip the rail in the water and have some fun!
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Dave Condon
suggestions
Ken's recommendation for a second reef is a good one. As for the battens, replace them. You can get 12 foot sections and cut them to the appropite sizes but make sure you round off the edges so it will not rip the sail. If the battens are coming out of the pockets, then secure them with line in the sail. Storm jib is fine but I would highly recommend roller furling for example the CDI system as you can furl out any or all of the sail depending on the wind conditions. If you are getting too much weather helm, there are many things you can do but generally reducing the sail area is the key and with roller furling I find it is nice.
Ken's recommendation for a second reef is a good one. As for the battens, replace them. You can get 12 foot sections and cut them to the appropite sizes but make sure you round off the edges so it will not rip the sail. If the battens are coming out of the pockets, then secure them with line in the sail. Storm jib is fine but I would highly recommend roller furling for example the CDI system as you can furl out any or all of the sail depending on the wind conditions. If you are getting too much weather helm, there are many things you can do but generally reducing the sail area is the key and with roller furling I find it is nice.
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John Thomas
Got my rail wet last week
I am a new owner of my 23 since about 4 months ago and like you did my first high wind sailing last weekend. Wow, what a blast. I got it over to about 40 degrees by my recently installed heel angle gauge and i got the rail in the water. My girlfriend got a little scared so I to down the 110 and found like others that it did not point well. (I didn't know why at the time). The weather helm may have been excesive. I am a long time Hobie sailior myself so the heel of course didn't bother me, but I did want to have the sheet in my hand all the time. (This might be hard to right if it turtled). I am considring purchasing a roller furling system and so far the CDI seems to be the prefered choice of H23 owners, although I have spoken to someone who had a Harken and I have heard a few bad things about the CDI. Good luck
I am a new owner of my 23 since about 4 months ago and like you did my first high wind sailing last weekend. Wow, what a blast. I got it over to about 40 degrees by my recently installed heel angle gauge and i got the rail in the water. My girlfriend got a little scared so I to down the 110 and found like others that it did not point well. (I didn't know why at the time). The weather helm may have been excesive. I am a long time Hobie sailior myself so the heel of course didn't bother me, but I did want to have the sheet in my hand all the time. (This might be hard to right if it turtled). I am considring purchasing a roller furling system and so far the CDI seems to be the prefered choice of H23 owners, although I have spoken to someone who had a Harken and I have heard a few bad things about the CDI. Good luck
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Gary Adams
To John
Hi John, Wow, I am glad to see another Hobie sailer clutching the main sheet line in his hands. I felt really bad when the boat started to heal just at 40 degrees and my hobie reflexes were at full alert. You know, break loose the main and ride out the puff ready to throw loose the sail. Having a great time with this boat. I wish we had more time to sail. Where I live in central Illinois the weather is changing fast. Great to hear from another Hobie fan. Gary
Hi John, Wow, I am glad to see another Hobie sailer clutching the main sheet line in his hands. I felt really bad when the boat started to heal just at 40 degrees and my hobie reflexes were at full alert. You know, break loose the main and ride out the puff ready to throw loose the sail. Having a great time with this boat. I wish we had more time to sail. Where I live in central Illinois the weather is changing fast. Great to hear from another Hobie fan. Gary
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john Thomas
To Gary
My girlfriend keeps asking me if there is any way the 23 can turn over like the Hobie. I assure her that it is quite imossible with the lake sailing that we do, but the truth is I'm not so confident. I've heard that it "rounds up nicely into the wind" and I think I even experienced that last week, But I was a little nervous and felt a lot better clutching the sheet. Anyway it is likewise good to hear from another Hobie sailor. Thanks..John
My girlfriend keeps asking me if there is any way the 23 can turn over like the Hobie. I assure her that it is quite imossible with the lake sailing that we do, but the truth is I'm not so confident. I've heard that it "rounds up nicely into the wind" and I think I even experienced that last week, But I was a little nervous and felt a lot better clutching the sheet. Anyway it is likewise good to hear from another Hobie sailor. Thanks..John
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Bill
Heavy wind experience
Last New Years Eve, we sailed up to St. Petes for the fireworks display at the Pier. Next Day we sailed around Pinelles Point and up to Madera Beach where we met friends for supper. Next morning the weather report was calling for 'Killer lightening,heavy rains and strong winds. We had breakfast at Mickey Ds and then started south through the ICW to Tampa Bay. The storms at that time of the year come out of the N.W. so the warm wind blows out of the S.E., we were fine until we reached the Egmont Channel just W. of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The winds were blowing up to 30 knts. We had the main and 110 jib up and sheeted in hard. The tide was going out and on a port tack we were out to the Egmont Key in no time flat. We then went on a starboard tack and we didn't seem to be making much headway. The waves were steep and choppy to the point that the boat would crash down into the troughs with a shudering sensation. I put on the harness and started the Yammy, I turned the tiller over to my wife and went forward to drop the sails. The motor must have caught a big wave that threw the motor into a tight turn to starboard. the wind knocked the boat over to a point that the sails were parallel with the surface of the water. My wife was pulled off the seat by the force of the motor and the sails exerting pressure on the tiller. The boat rounded up but was immediately caught again by the wind. Again we were knocked down. I managed to make my way back to the cockpit and my wife had the presence of mind to release the sheets. Needless to say we took the sails down and motored to the Manatee River. In my opinion this is a very forgiving sailboat. I'm sure there must have been a fair amount of keel out of the water when we were knocked down.
Last New Years Eve, we sailed up to St. Petes for the fireworks display at the Pier. Next Day we sailed around Pinelles Point and up to Madera Beach where we met friends for supper. Next morning the weather report was calling for 'Killer lightening,heavy rains and strong winds. We had breakfast at Mickey Ds and then started south through the ICW to Tampa Bay. The storms at that time of the year come out of the N.W. so the warm wind blows out of the S.E., we were fine until we reached the Egmont Channel just W. of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The winds were blowing up to 30 knts. We had the main and 110 jib up and sheeted in hard. The tide was going out and on a port tack we were out to the Egmont Key in no time flat. We then went on a starboard tack and we didn't seem to be making much headway. The waves were steep and choppy to the point that the boat would crash down into the troughs with a shudering sensation. I put on the harness and started the Yammy, I turned the tiller over to my wife and went forward to drop the sails. The motor must have caught a big wave that threw the motor into a tight turn to starboard. the wind knocked the boat over to a point that the sails were parallel with the surface of the water. My wife was pulled off the seat by the force of the motor and the sails exerting pressure on the tiller. The boat rounded up but was immediately caught again by the wind. Again we were knocked down. I managed to make my way back to the cockpit and my wife had the presence of mind to release the sheets. Needless to say we took the sails down and motored to the Manatee River. In my opinion this is a very forgiving sailboat. I'm sure there must have been a fair amount of keel out of the water when we were knocked down.
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Charlie
To Bill of 10/05 response
Bill what size boat/model were you sailing? Is your wife still game for sailing after such an experience??
Bill what size boat/model were you sailing? Is your wife still game for sailing after such an experience??
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