My husband want's to sail our 260 Hunter in the San Francisco Bay in September..I am new to sailing and am nervous when the boat heels over. Especially when the wind gusts. Does anyone have experience with the bay area? Any good advise that we would be able to use to make me less apprehensive?
Nervous Nelly
- Thread starter KHR
- Start date
September and October are the very BEST months to sail here. The summer winds have died down, and the winter storms have yet to come.
You'll love it, nothing scary. Lots has to do with where you plan to launch from. Do you know yet?
Also, beg, borrow or steal Kimball Livingston's great book Sailing The Bay.
You'll love it, nothing scary. Lots has to do with where you plan to launch from. Do you know yet?
Also, beg, borrow or steal Kimball Livingston's great book Sailing The Bay.
Alameda marina has a hoist. The ramp is outside the marina at the end of Grand Street (use Mapquest & Google Earth).
Good place to put in, great trip out the estuary. We just came back from anchoring out at Clipper Cove, should be about 1 1/2 hours from put in to get there, great first night on the hook.
Have a safe journey to get here.
Good place to put in, great trip out the estuary. We just came back from anchoring out at Clipper Cove, should be about 1 1/2 hours from put in to get there, great first night on the hook.
Have a safe journey to get here.
Reef!
Your boat is faster if you control heel. So don't be afraid to reef at the dock. Sailors on the Bay talk of using their second or third reefs.
Your boat is faster if you control heel. So don't be afraid to reef at the dock. Sailors on the Bay talk of using their second or third reefs.
Re: Reef!
Sailing on the bay lots of fun, You've gotten lots of good advice. One thing you'll find on the bay is that the winds are pretty much steady, starting out light in the morning and building through about 2 or 3 pm, they don't gust like many of our inland lakes, The winds, funnel through the golden gate and head straight to berkley. Do a search, there is a web site which shows real time winds on the bay.
Also, My wife doesn't like sailing on our inland lakes when the boat heels too much, the gusts (as you mention) make her uncomfortable. If your like her, you come from a power boating background where heeling boats usually indicate trouble. Our sailboats on the other hand like to put a little heel on, they go faster and look better that way (seems to be a theme with women and boats). She loves sailing on the bay since the winds are steady, there isn't the constant shifting over and back so once your set you just keep on going, with minimal changes to sail trim or boat heel.
If you get a chance, go out as much as possible, even when there is a little wind, take the helm and learn how the heeling can be controlled by using the mainsheet, traveler and vang. Learn how to reef and heave to so you can get things under control as needed.
The issues on the bay usually have less to do with wind and more to do with the BST (Big Steel Things), there is a lot of ship traffic in the bay and so you need to keep a sharp lookout.
Have fun and enjoy,
Victor
Sailing on the bay lots of fun, You've gotten lots of good advice. One thing you'll find on the bay is that the winds are pretty much steady, starting out light in the morning and building through about 2 or 3 pm, they don't gust like many of our inland lakes, The winds, funnel through the golden gate and head straight to berkley. Do a search, there is a web site which shows real time winds on the bay.
Also, My wife doesn't like sailing on our inland lakes when the boat heels too much, the gusts (as you mention) make her uncomfortable. If your like her, you come from a power boating background where heeling boats usually indicate trouble. Our sailboats on the other hand like to put a little heel on, they go faster and look better that way (seems to be a theme with women and boats). She loves sailing on the bay since the winds are steady, there isn't the constant shifting over and back so once your set you just keep on going, with minimal changes to sail trim or boat heel.
If you get a chance, go out as much as possible, even when there is a little wind, take the helm and learn how the heeling can be controlled by using the mainsheet, traveler and vang. Learn how to reef and heave to so you can get things under control as needed.
The issues on the bay usually have less to do with wind and more to do with the BST (Big Steel Things), there is a lot of ship traffic in the bay and so you need to keep a sharp lookout.
Have fun and enjoy,
Victor
We've sailed our 260 for 10 years now on the Columbia River in Portland, Oregon. During that same time we've sailed regularly on our friend's fixed keel H33 in the Bay. Their boat is moored in Sausalito. I have never seen a 260 on the Bay. I agree with David about reefing. I would do it at the dock if ours was in the Bay. But I'd listen to Stu - Alameda is the place to start.
When I take out people that are new to sailing or unsure of heeling I cover the heeling gauge with tape. You don't need to know what exact angle of heel you are at. You are pleasure sailing.
Most sailboats are going to turn into the wind if you heel too far. 60+ degrees. That's a long way over and chances are you won't get that far without trying to.
I think it is a good idea to know exactly the angle that will produce a broach or head up. I don't use the gauge to tell me what the angle is. I practice and get a feel for it. It's nice to know how far you can take it. I like to ride that edge.
Most sailboats are going to turn into the wind if you heel too far. 60+ degrees. That's a long way over and chances are you won't get that far without trying to.
I think it is a good idea to know exactly the angle that will produce a broach or head up. I don't use the gauge to tell me what the angle is. I practice and get a feel for it. It's nice to know how far you can take it. I like to ride that edge.
Kay,
Don't feel bad. Many (if not most) people get a little unnerved when a boat starts to tip. I still do. But rest assured, a sailboats hull wraps around the sides for a reason. Unlike a motor boat, it was not designed to sit upright in the water, unless at anchor. Sailboats are intended to cruise at an angle so if it aint leanin' y'aint sailin' right. If it makes you feel better, reef at the dock. The sails will have a clean, unrushed shape and be easier on your nerves. If you get out and things are great, shake out the reef and enjoy. Be sure to sit uphill so your feet are bracing against the cockpit. This will make you feel (erroneously) like you have some control.
DOn
Don't feel bad. Many (if not most) people get a little unnerved when a boat starts to tip. I still do. But rest assured, a sailboats hull wraps around the sides for a reason. Unlike a motor boat, it was not designed to sit upright in the water, unless at anchor. Sailboats are intended to cruise at an angle so if it aint leanin' y'aint sailin' right. If it makes you feel better, reef at the dock. The sails will have a clean, unrushed shape and be easier on your nerves. If you get out and things are great, shake out the reef and enjoy. Be sure to sit uphill so your feet are bracing against the cockpit. This will make you feel (erroneously) like you have some control.
DOn
I don't know much about the bay. But with regard to improving your comfort with a heeling boat I would suggest that you drive the boat. While you may at first be apprehensive, as soon as you realize you are in control you will begin to relax and enjoy. My wife went from un-enthusiastic to a maven by starting to do Wed PM races. It wasn't long before she was calling for more speed. The competitive instinct took over the fear. I hope some combination of this works for you. It is a great sport.
Although heeling is very unsettling, the physics of it all dictates that a sailboat cannot roll ALL the way over unless it is hit by a breaking wave on its broadside.
Once the wind has pushed a boat on its side, there is no longer any pressure on the sail. So long as you are in the bay (no large breaking waves) your heeling is nothing more than free adrenaline.
Once the wind has pushed a boat on its side, there is no longer any pressure on the sail. So long as you are in the bay (no large breaking waves) your heeling is nothing more than free adrenaline.
The H260 is very scary when the wind over powers it and it swings madly into the wind.
It is very difficult to knock this boat down. I agree with the others, reef prior to leaving the shelter of Alameda Island.
Here is how I cope:
1. Make sure everything is secured
2. Keep your eyes forward, not looking across and down into the water
3. Hang on
4. Release the main sheet (no traveler on the H260) to de-power the rig
It is very difficult to knock this boat down. I agree with the others, reef prior to leaving the shelter of Alameda Island.
Here is how I cope:
1. Make sure everything is secured
2. Keep your eyes forward, not looking across and down into the water
3. Hang on
4. Release the main sheet (no traveler on the H260) to de-power the rig
-and wear your pfd.
as others said, physics won't let it roll over. it may heel, but the boat will not lie down.
-start early in the day when it calmer.
as others said, physics won't let it roll over. it may heel, but the boat will not lie down.
-start early in the day when it calmer.