Oday322 rounding up
- Thread starter curtisac
- Start date
I have information on any boat rounding up. First if you are sailing in gusty winds and the boat is rounding up, I would reduce my sail area. That boat has a swell mainsail reefing system that efficiently allows a single reef in the main. Then there is the obviously easy choice to reduce the headsail size if you are using one. One of my favorite setups is a single reefed main and perhaps 70 percent headsail to drive thru the waves, etc. We rounded up Sunday afternoon in gusty conditions at our lake and so from that point on, were watching our point of sail, also the water for gusts moving toward us, as well as the traveler. I would prefer to head up and luff the sails vs. temporarily loosing control of the boat by rounding up. Maybe this will help also...if you find it necessary to reef and have not done it before, start you motor, lock off your wheel and head into the wind while reducing sail....if it clearly a gusty day, do it before you leave the dock or mooring...Pat
IMO, better to learn to hove-to and tuck in a main reef than to rely on a motor.
Start on port tack. Tack over to port eg. onto starboard tack, but DON'T release the jib sheet. As the boat blows off due to backed jib, put tiller over to port, or steer wheel to starboard. Whichever, the rudder will be turned to starboard, such that the boat is steered to windward by rudder, but backed jib blows it back off the wind. The boat will then slip moderately downwind in a scalloping fashion.
You will also have to let off the mainsheet to relieve pressure on the main, as you loosen the halyard, and drop main to first reef point, then fasten tack as your reefing was designed (several different methods) and then tighten clew reef line. Or, you have single line reefing, and pull that tight to effect the reef.
When you're all done reefing, just free the backed jib sheet, re-sheet on other side, sheet in main, and steer away on your course.
Easy peasy, calms everything down, and no motor required.
Say this: rounding up is GOOD!
Why? 'Cuz it means the boat is telling you two things: 1) you're overcanvassed, 2) you have a good safe boat that means it WILL round up instead of going over.
Good advice from the other posters.
Learn to heave to. The way it was described, 'cuz the starboard side is where most first reefing gear is on the side of the boom, unless you have your lines led aft.
Also talk to your dockmates on the Lake. There are tons of sailboats there, and the skippers will be more than pleased to teach you their tips & tricks, as well as the peculiarities of the Lake itself and its wind patterns.
Good luck.
Why? 'Cuz it means the boat is telling you two things: 1) you're overcanvassed, 2) you have a good safe boat that means it WILL round up instead of going over.
Good advice from the other posters.
Learn to heave to. The way it was described, 'cuz the starboard side is where most first reefing gear is on the side of the boom, unless you have your lines led aft.
Also talk to your dockmates on the Lake. There are tons of sailboats there, and the skippers will be more than pleased to teach you their tips & tricks, as well as the peculiarities of the Lake itself and its wind patterns.
Good luck.
I've got a 302. They are a bit prone to rounding up.
A few questions:
Are you experiencing excessive weather helm?
Do you have the stock traveler or do you have a more easily adjustable car?
How old are the sails? Originals?
I usually put 1 reef in the main at around 16-20 knots. Over 20 and I double reef and put a few wraps around the furler on the headsail.
In winds above 15 but with no reef in, my 302 likes a lot of twist in the main - let out some slack in the mainsheet and pull the traveler car to windward. If I don't do this the weather helm gets pretty heavy and shes more prone to round up.
A few questions:
Are you experiencing excessive weather helm?
Do you have the stock traveler or do you have a more easily adjustable car?
How old are the sails? Originals?
I usually put 1 reef in the main at around 16-20 knots. Over 20 and I double reef and put a few wraps around the furler on the headsail.
In winds above 15 but with no reef in, my 302 likes a lot of twist in the main - let out some slack in the mainsheet and pull the traveler car to windward. If I don't do this the weather helm gets pretty heavy and shes more prone to round up.
