I have a 1984 Hunter 34 which I sail on SF Bay. In big wind (18 mph with waves) when I attempt to fall off from close reach to a broad reach the boat simply will not let me do it or it is very difficult. I ease the main all the way to the spreader (swept back spreader) and ease the jib and even with the rudder all the way over it will not get past a close reach. What am I doing wrong? What can be done? I get the feeling that the H-34 is particularly bad about this. Anyone else out there dealt with this issue?
Hunter 34 Rounding up
- Thread starter markwbird
- Start date
Mark,
The easiest solution is to move to the Estuary.
Okay, that's not going to happen. These boats perform well in light Florida air where they were designed. But, by learning how to deal with that, they are still very capable on the bay and a lot of fun. We've had our 34 for 29+ years and realized that during the summer especially in the slot over by you we never go out with less than 2 reefs. When close hauled or close reaching, you have to dump the traveler all the way down and sheet the main tight to get it really flat and keep it off the spreader tips. With these swept back spreaders you can't really twist too much to spill the excess air. Also, vang the heck out of it to help that mainsheet. Then pinch a bit to help as well. Also wind the jib in (we have a 110) about 2 turns on the furler so it still has some shape but with the genoa car now back relative to the reefed jib it will help twist some of the air off high and stand you up more. Falling off to a broad reach on the 34 in winds around 20 and higher makes the boat want to round up and basically heave to all by itself. The solution is to drop the main completely and just sail on the jib. Coming back from Angel Island in the summer afternoon especially on an ebb tide on the jib only results in hull speed for a really fun ride. And it doesn't round up. Don't try and use an autopilot during any of this, you have to drive it by hand. Its a really good upper body workout. You'll get used to the feel and as the waves start to lift you you can correct with the wheel so you can track straight. Try to avoid sailing dead down wind with your boat. Its best to broad reach unless you have a really good boom brake as its too easy to accidentally gybe. Better to chicken gybe by heading all the way upwind and tack, then fall back off to the new course.
We are going with some good friends up to the San Rafael Yacht Club Friday and returning on Sunday. Probably be plenty windy and fun. We'll look for you on the bay.
Allan
The easiest solution is to move to the Estuary.
Okay, that's not going to happen. These boats perform well in light Florida air where they were designed. But, by learning how to deal with that, they are still very capable on the bay and a lot of fun. We've had our 34 for 29+ years and realized that during the summer especially in the slot over by you we never go out with less than 2 reefs. When close hauled or close reaching, you have to dump the traveler all the way down and sheet the main tight to get it really flat and keep it off the spreader tips. With these swept back spreaders you can't really twist too much to spill the excess air. Also, vang the heck out of it to help that mainsheet. Then pinch a bit to help as well. Also wind the jib in (we have a 110) about 2 turns on the furler so it still has some shape but with the genoa car now back relative to the reefed jib it will help twist some of the air off high and stand you up more. Falling off to a broad reach on the 34 in winds around 20 and higher makes the boat want to round up and basically heave to all by itself. The solution is to drop the main completely and just sail on the jib. Coming back from Angel Island in the summer afternoon especially on an ebb tide on the jib only results in hull speed for a really fun ride. And it doesn't round up. Don't try and use an autopilot during any of this, you have to drive it by hand. Its a really good upper body workout. You'll get used to the feel and as the waves start to lift you you can correct with the wheel so you can track straight. Try to avoid sailing dead down wind with your boat. Its best to broad reach unless you have a really good boom brake as its too easy to accidentally gybe. Better to chicken gybe by heading all the way upwind and tack, then fall back off to the new course.
We are going with some good friends up to the San Rafael Yacht Club Friday and returning on Sunday. Probably be plenty windy and fun. We'll look for you on the bay.
Allan
Interesting and informative set of suggestions. I have a question, however. Why not equip the boat with a suit of sails designed for the strong winds of SF Bay? Perhaps one does not have to go "whole hog", but wouldn't a flatter, perhaps newer, mainsail designed for > 20 kt apparent winds be a solution, even if reefing to boot when called for?
I don't have your boat. But I do sail in central SF Bay. Allan's recount of his experiences sounds very right.
I also sail my 36' 1980 Cherubini Hunter 4' 11" draft 80% of the time with the second reef preset on the main sail. The boat needs it for the raucous conditions in the central bay. For the locations where the wind isn't quite as strong, then my 105/110 jib is out all the way. The jib does a large percentage of the motive force on masthead rigged boats. So what if I might be loosing .5 kt due reefed compared to full sail due to a lighter wind at the moment. If the wind is really piping, then the jib is furled a few turns.
A couple of weeks ago, I made the transit from Pier 39 to the east side of Angel Island. Wind was howling from the Golden Gate towards Berkeley. Current per the Tides.mobilegraphics website (example here >> http://tides.mobilegeographics.com/locations/5545.html) was ebbing slightly. Most of the transit I was on a close reach. 2nd reef on the mainsail, but I let the jib out full. GPS had me doing 8.0 - 8.5kts much of the time. Yes I had to fight the weather helm but it was manageable. Upshot: A deeply reefed mainsail doesn't compromise in strong winds. But enables control. Also, in very strong winds, and depending on the current, even with a second reef, for the sake of my wife (and admittedly I also don't feel comfortable stressing my rig if it ain't really necessary) I might decide to give up my destination and alter course to do beam or broad reach.
My typical sailing location actually was a factor in a decision of mine today. A way's back I stumbled across a too big main sail for my boat. But it was in great condition and is very robust. It is now on my garage floor, cut to size. Reducing the size (luff is now 42.5' down from the original 48" has turned now turned the second reef location into the first reef. Due to a full length batten located in the position where a second reef would normal go, I was faced with either putting the 2nd reef below the batten which would be a 1.75 reef or above the batten which would be about a 2.25 reef. I chose the more aggressive option.
I also sail my 36' 1980 Cherubini Hunter 4' 11" draft 80% of the time with the second reef preset on the main sail. The boat needs it for the raucous conditions in the central bay. For the locations where the wind isn't quite as strong, then my 105/110 jib is out all the way. The jib does a large percentage of the motive force on masthead rigged boats. So what if I might be loosing .5 kt due reefed compared to full sail due to a lighter wind at the moment. If the wind is really piping, then the jib is furled a few turns.
A couple of weeks ago, I made the transit from Pier 39 to the east side of Angel Island. Wind was howling from the Golden Gate towards Berkeley. Current per the Tides.mobilegraphics website (example here >> http://tides.mobilegeographics.com/locations/5545.html) was ebbing slightly. Most of the transit I was on a close reach. 2nd reef on the mainsail, but I let the jib out full. GPS had me doing 8.0 - 8.5kts much of the time. Yes I had to fight the weather helm but it was manageable. Upshot: A deeply reefed mainsail doesn't compromise in strong winds. But enables control. Also, in very strong winds, and depending on the current, even with a second reef, for the sake of my wife (and admittedly I also don't feel comfortable stressing my rig if it ain't really necessary) I might decide to give up my destination and alter course to do beam or broad reach.
My typical sailing location actually was a factor in a decision of mine today. A way's back I stumbled across a too big main sail for my boat. But it was in great condition and is very robust. It is now on my garage floor, cut to size. Reducing the size (luff is now 42.5' down from the original 48" has turned now turned the second reef location into the first reef. Due to a full length batten located in the position where a second reef would normal go, I was faced with either putting the 2nd reef below the batten which would be a 1.75 reef or above the batten which would be about a 2.25 reef. I chose the more aggressive option.
op you might also check to see if your boat had the rudder fix done, some (im not sure which ones) hunter 34's of early production left the factory with a too small rudder, my friend here in fl has one and even in our "wimpy light airs that the 34 was designed for" its torture to try to sail it properly.
Thanks for the help
Thanks, Allen. Good stuff. It sounds like I need to upgrade my reefing system to make reefing quicker and easier. When I had my mainsail made I had them skip the 1st reef and just install the 2nd and 3rd for SF bay sailing. Problem is I have to go forward to reef and when sailing alone as I was Sunday that is not so easy. Most of the day the wind was very light (rare in the summer) so of course when I turned to head home from Angel Island towards Berkeley it piped up to 20 knots. You're right, though. The H-34 is a fun boat once you know how to handle her.
Thanks, Allen. Good stuff. It sounds like I need to upgrade my reefing system to make reefing quicker and easier. When I had my mainsail made I had them skip the 1st reef and just install the 2nd and 3rd for SF bay sailing. Problem is I have to go forward to reef and when sailing alone as I was Sunday that is not so easy. Most of the day the wind was very light (rare in the summer) so of course when I turned to head home from Angel Island towards Berkeley it piped up to 20 knots. You're right, though. The H-34 is a fun boat once you know how to handle her.