I need help heaving to in my 85 hunter 23. I’m not sure if I understand how to position the sails. Can someone explain? thanks
- Status
How to Heave
Bring your boat up into the wind on a close tack. "Stall" it by doing a slow tack through the wind, losing speed, and leave the jib on the original side, which will cause the jib to be "backed". The boat will want to continue to turn down wind. Turn your helm so it wants to go back into the wind again, and lock the helm there. Now, the wind will try to push the nose down wind, and then the rudder will try to push it back into the wind. A balance will be reached, with occasional small scallop-like motions. You are now hove-to!
Bring your boat up into the wind on a close tack. "Stall" it by doing a slow tack through the wind, losing speed, and leave the jib on the original side, which will cause the jib to be "backed". The boat will want to continue to turn down wind. Turn your helm so it wants to go back into the wind again, and lock the helm there. Now, the wind will try to push the nose down wind, and then the rudder will try to push it back into the wind. A balance will be reached, with occasional small scallop-like motions. You are now hove-to!
Fine Tuning
Heaving To is frequently easier in theory than in practice. Each boat is a little different and will find its own place off the wind. It's generally desirable to be as close to the wind as possible. If you can reach an angle of 30 degrees of the wind you are doing pretty well. The previous post described the essentials. If you think of heaving to as a war between the backed jib and the rudder, you have the basics. If you're blown too far off the wind, the backed jib is winning the battle. You might solve this by furling the jib to reduce it's power or by sheeting in the main (assuming it's luffing) to add power to the rudder. Conversely if you're trying to heave to and are coming around to tack back to your original course, then the rudder is too strong for the jib. Consider easing the main sheet till it luffs to depower the rudder. Balance in the war is the ticket. Each boat is unique in the way it heaves to. Try playing with it on a nice day so you get the hang of it before it becomes necesary in a blow. Good luck. Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335
Heaving To is frequently easier in theory than in practice. Each boat is a little different and will find its own place off the wind. It's generally desirable to be as close to the wind as possible. If you can reach an angle of 30 degrees of the wind you are doing pretty well. The previous post described the essentials. If you think of heaving to as a war between the backed jib and the rudder, you have the basics. If you're blown too far off the wind, the backed jib is winning the battle. You might solve this by furling the jib to reduce it's power or by sheeting in the main (assuming it's luffing) to add power to the rudder. Conversely if you're trying to heave to and are coming around to tack back to your original course, then the rudder is too strong for the jib. Consider easing the main sheet till it luffs to depower the rudder. Balance in the war is the ticket. Each boat is unique in the way it heaves to. Try playing with it on a nice day so you get the hang of it before it becomes necesary in a blow. Good luck. Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335
Short version
Turn into the wind, but don't release the jib. You should slow to a crawl. This is a useful maneuver for man overboard.
Turn into the wind, but don't release the jib. You should slow to a crawl. This is a useful maneuver for man overboard.
An interesting variation......
...that works with my full-batten main, but did not do so with my old, short batten one, is to simply stall the boat under main only. In other words, with the main sheeted in very tight, put the bow down to where you are about right angles to the wind. The sail stalls, the boat stops, and gently moves sideways, and creates a lateral wake that softens wave action. Of course, you cannot have too much sail up, or you will heel a lot, but, I have found this to be a more comfortable "heave to" under certain conditions, and gives you an option when you are not flying a jib. I hadn't thought of this, but if the urge to snack overcame one while motorsailing with only the main up......!
...that works with my full-batten main, but did not do so with my old, short batten one, is to simply stall the boat under main only. In other words, with the main sheeted in very tight, put the bow down to where you are about right angles to the wind. The sail stalls, the boat stops, and gently moves sideways, and creates a lateral wake that softens wave action. Of course, you cannot have too much sail up, or you will heel a lot, but, I have found this to be a more comfortable "heave to" under certain conditions, and gives you an option when you are not flying a jib. I hadn't thought of this, but if the urge to snack overcame one while motorsailing with only the main up......!
Go with Bill's response
Steve: Follow Bill O'Donovan's suggestion. Turn into the wind and backwind the jib. It's basically a gybe that fails because the jib sheet isn't released. It is actually easy to do, easier than actually performing a "full" gybe. -Kevin.
Steve: Follow Bill O'Donovan's suggestion. Turn into the wind and backwind the jib. It's basically a gybe that fails because the jib sheet isn't released. It is actually easy to do, easier than actually performing a "full" gybe. -Kevin.
Reply to Joe
Joe: "Heaving to" allows one to stop a sailboat without taking down the sails. Helpful when recovering a man overboard. Ever heard the movie cliche "Heave to and prepare to be boarded?" The Coast Guard still uses it. - Kevin.
Joe: "Heaving to" allows one to stop a sailboat without taking down the sails. Helpful when recovering a man overboard. Ever heard the movie cliche "Heave to and prepare to be boarded?" The Coast Guard still uses it. - Kevin.
Thanks Everyone
Thanks for all the advice, looking forward to trying this out in this damn cold weather.
Thanks for all the advice, looking forward to trying this out in this damn cold weather.
Another reply to Joe
Knowing how to heave to is also useful when you're out on the boat with your lady friend and the "urge" strikes suddenly.... ;-)
Knowing how to heave to is also useful when you're out on the boat with your lady friend and the "urge" strikes suddenly.... ;-)
Joe another reason to heave to
would be to throw in a reef when underway. I've been out a few times when I stubbornly refused to reef at the dock and needed to throw in a first or second reef.
would be to throw in a reef when underway. I've been out a few times when I stubbornly refused to reef at the dock and needed to throw in a first or second reef.
Don't know about THAT one, Doug T.
Being hove-to with a finkeeler requires a bit of a balancing act. IMHO, the activities you are envisaging might very well trigger a roll gybe..... Flying Dutchman
Being hove-to with a finkeeler requires a bit of a balancing act. IMHO, the activities you are envisaging might very well trigger a roll gybe..... Flying Dutchman
Heave to for the Coast Guard, Nah, just sail...
I was boarded by the coast guard on Lake Ontario last year. They originally told me to heave to, but my sails were up and the boat was well balanced and sailing straight. I said, just pull up along side and hop on. Their 43 foot boat just pulled right up to my aft windward starboard side and the Coast Guard, Immigration and Customs Inspectors just walked right on. After inspection, they pulled the boat back up and hopped off. One of them, when leaving, said, "Thanks for the great sailing."
I was boarded by the coast guard on Lake Ontario last year. They originally told me to heave to, but my sails were up and the boat was well balanced and sailing straight. I said, just pull up along side and hop on. Their 43 foot boat just pulled right up to my aft windward starboard side and the Coast Guard, Immigration and Customs Inspectors just walked right on. After inspection, they pulled the boat back up and hopped off. One of them, when leaving, said, "Thanks for the great sailing."
- Status