Mainsail is a giant rudder

[Don Guillette]

I thought about this when I read Pat H (Kingston, Canada)who said that the main goes out while rounding a mark. That is correct but I see a lot of middle to back of the pack racers trying to turn a mark without easing the main prior to mark rounding. They end up fighting their way around and in tight traffic this can be a mess.There is no difference between racing trim and cruising trim (only a right way and a wrong way) but cruiser can many times learn things from racers. Most sailors don't realize that the mainsail is like a giant rudder. The mainsail is much more powerful than the rudder and can easily overpower it. This overpowering is what is happening in a strong puff of air. The boat just rounds up no matter how much pressure you apply to the rudder.When rounding a mark it is essential to ease the main by dropping the traveler as the skipper turns the boat. If you don't ease it the boat is very difficult to turn.What can a cruiser learn from this? I had a dock neighbor in Long Beach, Ca who really wanted to sail into his slip. He tried to make the turn into the slip way a couple of times but the boat did not want to turn. Normally, it blows a bit in the afternoon in Long Beach. He asked me to explain what was causing the problem so I decided to go out with him to see what he was doing. My first suggestion was to just motor in but since he owned a sailboat it is important to know how to control the boat in the event the motor fails. On his first attempt he missed the slipway because he did not drop the traveler. Second attempt was a snap when I eased the traveler down.If you are a beginner to intermediate, mess around with this technique next time your out. Pick a bouy or something to practice on.

 

[Seattle Scott]

Don could you add some references

to the slip scenario, and generally to your subject, such as upwind/downwind rouding, windward/leward side rounding. Was the guy falling off to make his slipway?

 

[Ted]

Wrong Information

"When rounding a mark it is essential to ease the main by dropping the traveler as the skipper turns the boat. If you don't ease it the boat is very difficult to turn."This statement is not always the case. Sometimes you want to ease the headsail and keep the main trimmed. It all depends on which way you want to turn the boat and which tack you're on. Ted

 

[Seattle Scott]

OK now I get it

*cry actually I don't have a clue

 

[Moody Buccaneer]

Obvious ...

It is very obvious ... if easing the main helps to round the mark, it is a weather mark (or the course to the next mark is blow close hauled).If trimming the main helps make the turn, it is a leeward mark (or the course to the next mark is closer to the wind).The point is that a combination of sail trim, rudder and crew movement is the fast (and easy) way to change course.If your boat will balance with the rudder locked while sailing up-wind, you can make small course corrections with sail trim. In many junior programs the kids are taught to sail around a course with no rudder on the boat.Windsurfers have no rudders, all the steering is done with sail trim and hull balance.

 

[Moody Buccaneer]

Obvious ...

It is very obvious ... if easing the main helps to round the mark, it is a weather mark (or the course to the next mark is blow close hauled).If trimming the main helps make the turn, it is a leeward mark (or the course to the next mark is closer to the wind).The point is that a combination of sail trim, rudder and crew movement is the fast (and easy) way to change course.If your boat will balance with the rudder locked while sailing up-wind, you can make small course corrections with sail trim. In many junior programs the kids are taught to sail around a course with no rudder on the boat.Windsurfers have no rudders, all the steering is done with sail trim and hull balance.

 

[Don Guillette]

Reference

Scott: In the Long Beach situation the sailor is closehauled and trying to make a left turn into a relatively narrow slip way. This situation is no different than making a left turn with a car. We must brake before the turn and one way to apply the brake on a sail boat is to reduce the angle of attack. On the mainsail you can do that by dropping the traveler and on the jib you ease the sheet.