Im new to sailing when you have wind on the aft an you are going down wind a want to drop the sails because the wind is picking up should you turn to the port or turn to starberd to take the sails down.thanks for any help put it a about 35 deg.when i went the wrong way.
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Doug T.
Dropping sails
If your mainsail is on the port side (with the wind coming directly off the stern or off the starboard aft quarter), you should round up to starboard. If the winds are very strong and you're worried about getting knocked down, let the mainsail luff (flap loosely in the wind) -- leave the mainsheet eased as you come about. If you were to turn to port in this situation, you will jibe and the boom will slam around to the other side. Not fun. The reason you heeled so much was that you keep the sail trimmed too tight while coming about. 35 degrees doesn't really qualify as a "knockdown", but when you're new to the game and things feel out of control, it can still be scarey! By the way, with a roller furler jib, you can roll it up from any point of sail -- just ease the sheets so that it's luffing and crank it in.
If your mainsail is on the port side (with the wind coming directly off the stern or off the starboard aft quarter), you should round up to starboard. If the winds are very strong and you're worried about getting knocked down, let the mainsail luff (flap loosely in the wind) -- leave the mainsheet eased as you come about. If you were to turn to port in this situation, you will jibe and the boom will slam around to the other side. Not fun. The reason you heeled so much was that you keep the sail trimmed too tight while coming about. 35 degrees doesn't really qualify as a "knockdown", but when you're new to the game and things feel out of control, it can still be scarey! By the way, with a roller furler jib, you can roll it up from any point of sail -- just ease the sheets so that it's luffing and crank it in.
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Steve
tie a knot in your main sheet
i tied a stopper knot in my main sheet so if i do have an uncontrolled jibe the boom will not reach the shrouds. not sure how a 30 is rigged, maybe this can help.
i tied a stopper knot in my main sheet so if i do have an uncontrolled jibe the boom will not reach the shrouds. not sure how a 30 is rigged, maybe this can help.
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Frank Sears
Heave toooo!
I too am a new sailor and we did this last weekend. First, always turn into the wind. Second, if the wind is bad- your running and afraid of the heel you might get centering the main first, have the helmsman man the main sheet. As he turns into the wind, tighten the mainsheet-centering the main. Third- go into irons and let the wind hit the back of the jib sail. You'll stop like a rock. You should be in a safe position to drop your sails and make adjustments. Hope this works for you! Good Luck!
I too am a new sailor and we did this last weekend. First, always turn into the wind. Second, if the wind is bad- your running and afraid of the heel you might get centering the main first, have the helmsman man the main sheet. As he turns into the wind, tighten the mainsheet-centering the main. Third- go into irons and let the wind hit the back of the jib sail. You'll stop like a rock. You should be in a safe position to drop your sails and make adjustments. Hope this works for you! Good Luck!
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Doug T.
Heaving to
When the jib backwinds while heaving to, the wind will try to push the bow of the boat around. Compensate by putting the tiller hard alee or turning the wheel all the way to windward. The rudder and jib forces should counterbalance each other. Let the main luff if necessary in order to keep it balanced. The boom should end up pretty close to the centerline while in this configuration. Best thing: practice all this in lighter winds!!!
When the jib backwinds while heaving to, the wind will try to push the bow of the boat around. Compensate by putting the tiller hard alee or turning the wheel all the way to windward. The rudder and jib forces should counterbalance each other. Let the main luff if necessary in order to keep it balanced. The boom should end up pretty close to the centerline while in this configuration. Best thing: practice all this in lighter winds!!!
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Jim Maroldo
Tie a knot in the Main sheet???????
Sorry to bust your bubble Steve, but Don, DON'T TRY THAT MANUEVER! You should NEVER allow your boom fly while jibing... especially in strong winds! Maybe the knot will stop the sail from hitting the shrouds, but who cares about that? When the knot hits the sheet block, it might rip the damned block right off the traveller... or the boom! IN either case, you're beat! If you are on either a broad reach (wind over the starboard quarter) or a run (wind directly aft), and your mainsail is to port, then turn to starboard in order to come up into the wind. This makes it unnecessary to jibe. As previously explained, let your main out if you start to heel too much (It should already be out if you were on a run!). You can also let the jib out a bit if the wind is really that strong. However, if you really must turn to port under the above conditions, then sheet the main in fully BEFORE you begin your jibe and let it out again as soon as the wind catches the port side of your main. You should never allow your main to fly around loose during a jibe - eventulally, YOU WILL BREAK SOMETHING, and possibly hurt someone, too! As far as shipping the sails go, I can't understand why people are telling you to heave to. Unless you have roller reefing, you should (IMHO) be in irons (directly into the wind) when you drop your main. The sails slide down so much easier that way. With a stiff breeze going, you'll need to fire up the engine to keep you in irons while the sails get put up; otherwise, they'll be blowing all over the place. Do you have a good book on sailing? May I suggest "Sailing Fundamentals" by Gary Jobson? It is the official manual of the American Sailing Association and the USCGA. Studying this book will be of immense help to you AND your new boat! ENJOY! Jim maroldo s/v: Lil' Wass Ett
Sorry to bust your bubble Steve, but Don, DON'T TRY THAT MANUEVER! You should NEVER allow your boom fly while jibing... especially in strong winds! Maybe the knot will stop the sail from hitting the shrouds, but who cares about that? When the knot hits the sheet block, it might rip the damned block right off the traveller... or the boom! IN either case, you're beat! If you are on either a broad reach (wind over the starboard quarter) or a run (wind directly aft), and your mainsail is to port, then turn to starboard in order to come up into the wind. This makes it unnecessary to jibe. As previously explained, let your main out if you start to heel too much (It should already be out if you were on a run!). You can also let the jib out a bit if the wind is really that strong. However, if you really must turn to port under the above conditions, then sheet the main in fully BEFORE you begin your jibe and let it out again as soon as the wind catches the port side of your main. You should never allow your main to fly around loose during a jibe - eventulally, YOU WILL BREAK SOMETHING, and possibly hurt someone, too! As far as shipping the sails go, I can't understand why people are telling you to heave to. Unless you have roller reefing, you should (IMHO) be in irons (directly into the wind) when you drop your main. The sails slide down so much easier that way. With a stiff breeze going, you'll need to fire up the engine to keep you in irons while the sails get put up; otherwise, they'll be blowing all over the place. Do you have a good book on sailing? May I suggest "Sailing Fundamentals" by Gary Jobson? It is the official manual of the American Sailing Association and the USCGA. Studying this book will be of immense help to you AND your new boat! ENJOY! Jim maroldo s/v: Lil' Wass Ett
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jim oursler
Sailing school
Years ago I learned to sail the hard way.. by my self. Finally went to sail school, and later became an instructor. Now I see all that I did that made sailing really awful in the beginning. Spend $200-300 and get some lessons.
Years ago I learned to sail the hard way.. by my self. Finally went to sail school, and later became an instructor. Now I see all that I did that made sailing really awful in the beginning. Spend $200-300 and get some lessons.
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don robinson
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