How much heel can I get away with on a DS I ?

[Steve]

Since a knockdown 2 years ago caused by not being able to release a mainsheet in time, I have been perhaps overly cautious on how much heel I can get away with on my DS I. Now I always have the mainsheet in hand. I'll go maybe 5 inches from the water to the rub rail. I do hike out when necessary. Will the weight of the mast be enough to knock her down if the rub rail is near water level or providing I have good mainsheet control, will she remain stable up unitl the point of water coming in?

 

[J Cook]

Sailing to Put In Bay

How long of a sail is it from Port Clinton to Put In Bay?

 

[Michael McGovern]

DS I Heel

Hi.I was taught that the optimum heel for a DS was about 5%.In heavy weather, the boats are stable until they get right up on their beam ends. When in doubt, let out the main and head up. If you get up onto the beam ends, your rudder comes out of the water so the boat slows down, heads up into the wind, then slowly broaches as water comes up over the leeward gunwale. Then it's time to swim and put some flotation under the masthead ;*)In heavy weather, there are times you just can't keep the boat flat. In those conditions, we consistently sail the boat with the water up over the rub rail and just below the edge of the cockpit until we can get it down flat again. The boat is still controllable in that position.In REALLY heavy weather, watch out going downwind in a chop. These boats can stick their nose right into the back of a wave and, since they're so light, pitchpole. An impressive sight...MSM

 

[Steve]

Thanks Michael!!!

Hi Michael, You were a huge help, I needed to know if she'll recover from heel where water is near the rubrail and you answered that very well. I do keep the mainsheet in hand uncleated and there have been some days when I had just wanted to push her a little more. Thanks Again, Steve

 

[Ken Cobb]

Considerable heel

I agree that you can sail with the DS rubrail at the water line, but the boat is faster if you don't heel it that much. Plus, your margin for error is too thin if you leave it in the water that far.I don't think it is necessary to keep the mainsheet uncleated, but it should be in your hand ready to yank free of the cleat if you need to spill the mainsail on short notice.

 

[Steve]

Thanks Ken

Thanks Ken, appreciate the reply!!

 

[Dick Grigsby]

How Much Heel?

The threat of a knock-down is more dependent upon the jib than the main being cleated. If you can not uncleat the main but can uncleat the jib - generally speaking the boat will be rounded up into the wind. What will happen next is an automatic tack with you still on the low side and a capsize in the opposite direction that what you are expecting. What takes the boat over on the existing tack is usually the jib since it is in front of the center of effort (centerboard).