From what I know about sailing (which isn't much) if I have the mainsail up aand the rudder amidships the boat should head up and go into irons. Correct? When I do this with my c-22 so that I can put up the jib when singlehanding, the boat wants to fall off. Even if I put the rudder hard over it barely heads up at all. Am I doing something wrong? Is this a c-22 trait? Any info would be appreciated. Mike yogipogi@attbi.com
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Pete Staehling
Huh?
First, I am no expert. What I suggest is just "what I do". It may or may not be the "right way", but it works for me. I am not sure I understand what you are asking. My C22 doesn't like to stay in irons without some attention, but why do you need to put her in irons to raise the jib? I figure you can raise the jib on any point of sail. If I need a stable state that requires no attention from me I heave to, but that requires that the jib is up, at least the way I do it (Is it possible to heave to with main only?). Do you mean that you want to go forward to hank on a jib? If so, why not do that before you raise the main? The only reason I can think of to need to hank on a jib after the main is up is if you decide to change jibs because the conditions changed. In that case, and in a non-racing context, I probably would drop the main to do it. It really isn't a big deal and I bet it only takes me about 4 minutes to be back underway, if I don't dally. If it is blowing too hard for the jib I am flying, I usually just go to main only rather than bother to put on a smaller jib in those conditions. My method for getting underway when single handing is a follows: 1. Hank on jib, remove covers, and attach halyards while still at the dock. 2. Motor out of marina. 3. Head up with motor idling and tiller tied. 4. Take ties off of main and raise main quickly. 5. Start sailing with only main. 6. Kill and raise motor. 7. Raise jib with sheets loose. 8. Adjust jib sheet. 9. Have a wonderful day sailing! Steps 2-8 take a total of maybe 2 minutes. All of this may be tougher if you don't have halyards lead back to the cockpit, but I wouldn't even consider not having the halyards lead aft as well as having a downhaul for the jib. These two things make life much easier even if you don't singlehand. If I misunderstood what you are asking, please clarify the question and I will try again. Pete
First, I am no expert. What I suggest is just "what I do". It may or may not be the "right way", but it works for me. I am not sure I understand what you are asking. My C22 doesn't like to stay in irons without some attention, but why do you need to put her in irons to raise the jib? I figure you can raise the jib on any point of sail. If I need a stable state that requires no attention from me I heave to, but that requires that the jib is up, at least the way I do it (Is it possible to heave to with main only?). Do you mean that you want to go forward to hank on a jib? If so, why not do that before you raise the main? The only reason I can think of to need to hank on a jib after the main is up is if you decide to change jibs because the conditions changed. In that case, and in a non-racing context, I probably would drop the main to do it. It really isn't a big deal and I bet it only takes me about 4 minutes to be back underway, if I don't dally. If it is blowing too hard for the jib I am flying, I usually just go to main only rather than bother to put on a smaller jib in those conditions. My method for getting underway when single handing is a follows: 1. Hank on jib, remove covers, and attach halyards while still at the dock. 2. Motor out of marina. 3. Head up with motor idling and tiller tied. 4. Take ties off of main and raise main quickly. 5. Start sailing with only main. 6. Kill and raise motor. 7. Raise jib with sheets loose. 8. Adjust jib sheet. 9. Have a wonderful day sailing! Steps 2-8 take a total of maybe 2 minutes. All of this may be tougher if you don't have halyards lead back to the cockpit, but I wouldn't even consider not having the halyards lead aft as well as having a downhaul for the jib. These two things make life much easier even if you don't singlehand. If I misunderstood what you are asking, please clarify the question and I will try again. Pete
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Jim Wallace
Raising sails solo
Head up wind, let go of the tiller, raise the jib first then raise the main. Nothing to worry about as long as all your sheets are loose and free.
Head up wind, let go of the tiller, raise the jib first then raise the main. Nothing to worry about as long as all your sheets are loose and free.
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Jack Rhines
Get a good book
Wow! Pete really steped up with some good advice ! Sounds like you need to know a little more then just how to raise the sails! A good book is, Sailing Funamentals , Gary Jobson Under $20.00 bucks lots of used ones for less,Try ebay.or half.com Manual of the American Sailing Association and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary! Lots of free Coast Guard Classes on Sailing check your area! Good Sailing, Jack
Wow! Pete really steped up with some good advice ! Sounds like you need to know a little more then just how to raise the sails! A good book is, Sailing Funamentals , Gary Jobson Under $20.00 bucks lots of used ones for less,Try ebay.or half.com Manual of the American Sailing Association and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary! Lots of free Coast Guard Classes on Sailing check your area! Good Sailing, Jack
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mg
add topping lift
add a topping lift to the main , that way you can raise it with the wind basically accross the beam . but you have to clear the battons off the shrouds first. if its that close i raise the jib first and over sheet just a bit to put a little more wind on the leeward side of the main. helps to keep in off the shrouds as it goes up. as far as moving halyards aft, i dont think it helps when single handling in that its harder to reef the main, you have to go to the mast anyway to reattach the tack. adjust the cunningham and jiffy reefing line down haul too . this makes for two trips forward rather than 1 for tucking in the reef. as for the jib you still have to go forward to tie it off to stay out of the water and on deck . just a thougt , my halyards are led aft but but if its crappy out i simply cleat off at the mast. as ill need to go there a few times anyway. i suggest getting used to going forward finding hand hold and developing foredeck safety practices before you really need to becouse when something screws up you are going forward at one time or another. if you think its a pain with 15kt winds try it at 30. practice makes perfect. and hopefully safer too. best of luck mg
add a topping lift to the main , that way you can raise it with the wind basically accross the beam . but you have to clear the battons off the shrouds first. if its that close i raise the jib first and over sheet just a bit to put a little more wind on the leeward side of the main. helps to keep in off the shrouds as it goes up. as far as moving halyards aft, i dont think it helps when single handling in that its harder to reef the main, you have to go to the mast anyway to reattach the tack. adjust the cunningham and jiffy reefing line down haul too . this makes for two trips forward rather than 1 for tucking in the reef. as for the jib you still have to go forward to tie it off to stay out of the water and on deck . just a thougt , my halyards are led aft but but if its crappy out i simply cleat off at the mast. as ill need to go there a few times anyway. i suggest getting used to going forward finding hand hold and developing foredeck safety practices before you really need to becouse when something screws up you are going forward at one time or another. if you think its a pain with 15kt winds try it at 30. practice makes perfect. and hopefully safer too. best of luck mg
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Pete Staehling
mg's comments
Good comments from mg. I will say that some of what he says is dependent on the specific rigging of your boat (particularly the comment about the halyards). For example: Do you have a cunninghan or not, if so is it lead aft? Ditto for vang. What kind of reefing do you use (single line or double) and where are the lines cleated? Depending on these and other things you may be able to reef with one or even no trips forward with halyards lead aft. I typically reef without leaving the cockpit, although going forward in 30 kt winds really isn't a big deal when hove to. I typically heave to in order to reef, it makes things way less hectic than any other way I have tried. Like just about everything in sailing there is more than one way to handle just about every task, and often it will vary from boat to boat depending on how she is rigged.
Good comments from mg. I will say that some of what he says is dependent on the specific rigging of your boat (particularly the comment about the halyards). For example: Do you have a cunninghan or not, if so is it lead aft? Ditto for vang. What kind of reefing do you use (single line or double) and where are the lines cleated? Depending on these and other things you may be able to reef with one or even no trips forward with halyards lead aft. I typically reef without leaving the cockpit, although going forward in 30 kt winds really isn't a big deal when hove to. I typically heave to in order to reef, it makes things way less hectic than any other way I have tried. Like just about everything in sailing there is more than one way to handle just about every task, and often it will vary from boat to boat depending on how she is rigged.
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Bill
Don't buy that book.
That book is absolutely TERRIBLE! I really don't mean any offense to Jack, but I have that book and it is really bad. I guess it is ok of you have never been on the water and have no idea what you are doing, but it has no "sailing instructions" to it at all. It seemed to me that most of the book was stuff like "don't forget your sunscreen," and "how to tie a cleat," and "how to drop the anchor," etc. I was really disappointed with it because it had nothing about adjusting travelers or boom vangs, etc. Get a book on advanced sailing and it will have all the basic stuff as well as more necessary stuff. I am still looking for a book like that (although I haven't looked very hard) so let me know if you find one. Happy sails! Bill Geers
That book is absolutely TERRIBLE! I really don't mean any offense to Jack, but I have that book and it is really bad. I guess it is ok of you have never been on the water and have no idea what you are doing, but it has no "sailing instructions" to it at all. It seemed to me that most of the book was stuff like "don't forget your sunscreen," and "how to tie a cleat," and "how to drop the anchor," etc. I was really disappointed with it because it had nothing about adjusting travelers or boom vangs, etc. Get a book on advanced sailing and it will have all the basic stuff as well as more necessary stuff. I am still looking for a book like that (although I haven't looked very hard) so let me know if you find one. Happy sails! Bill Geers
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Jack Rhines
Dont buy that book!
Hi all, No offense taken ,Bill. The idea here is to try and help each other! The book"Sailing Fundmentals" is as stated "Fundamentals " being the key word! When Mike stated from what I know about sailing (which isn't much) ! Looked like a chance for me to pass on some good info,that has helped me along the way! The book being the official Learn to Sail textbook for the US coast Guard Auxillary should be of some help. To those more advanced a good book that I use and has a good bit on "travelers and boom vangs" "On the Wind" Mastering the Art of Sailing "David Seidman" I am on way to San diego Bay as soon as we get packed ,for a day Sail with wife on our Little fin keel 22 foot Catalina(love that boat,Small is good when it comes to Marina fees)The weather is great now and winds are steady for a reach out past Point Loma. To all my best here and good Sailing, Jack
Hi all, No offense taken ,Bill. The idea here is to try and help each other! The book"Sailing Fundmentals" is as stated "Fundamentals " being the key word! When Mike stated from what I know about sailing (which isn't much) ! Looked like a chance for me to pass on some good info,that has helped me along the way! The book being the official Learn to Sail textbook for the US coast Guard Auxillary should be of some help. To those more advanced a good book that I use and has a good bit on "travelers and boom vangs" "On the Wind" Mastering the Art of Sailing "David Seidman" I am on way to San diego Bay as soon as we get packed ,for a day Sail with wife on our Little fin keel 22 foot Catalina(love that boat,Small is good when it comes to Marina fees)The weather is great now and winds are steady for a reach out past Point Loma. To all my best here and good Sailing, Jack
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