Fellow Sailors: During 15+ knot winds, I sometimes lose the ablility to set a course, and instead find myself blowing around in circles, at the mercy of the wind. I then drop the sails, and wind up motoring back to the dock. The rudder is working properly, however it seems to be inadequate to maintain my course. This happens where the two rivers join to form the harbor, and the winds get blustery. Today, it happened with just the jibsail up. Anyone else have this happen to them? Thanks much for any and all replies. Psychotom
Round and Round
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Currents?
We once had the same problem, although in a smaller boat and more wind. No matter what was tried, we could not tack the boat - it would not come around. Later, after we finally made it in, we realized that we were trying to work against a particularly strong and wicked current being created by the merging of two rivers. This occured at Turkey Point, on the upper Chesapeake.
We once had the same problem, although in a smaller boat and more wind. No matter what was tried, we could not tack the boat - it would not come around. Later, after we finally made it in, we realized that we were trying to work against a particularly strong and wicked current being created by the merging of two rivers. This occured at Turkey Point, on the upper Chesapeake.
Ballance the sails
You may be creating a difficult situation with only the jib up. Next time why not try a reefed main and a small jib, such as the standard 110. You will not be over powered; should be able to keep your speed up and tacking will be much easier. Also, make sure your prop is not spinning in front of the rudder as the turbulence that creates could have considerable effect on the rudder's efficiency.
You may be creating a difficult situation with only the jib up. Next time why not try a reefed main and a small jib, such as the standard 110. You will not be over powered; should be able to keep your speed up and tacking will be much easier. Also, make sure your prop is not spinning in front of the rudder as the turbulence that creates could have considerable effect on the rudder's efficiency.
Yes, balance!
Stu is right. I also find that in a big blow my 285 handles much better with a reefed main and a rolled in jib. Even just a little bit of jib helps to keep the bow from turning up. I also throw my gear selector into reverse to keep the prop from turning. Read some where that it was a good thing to do. Besides that "click, click, click...." I can hear when I'm in neutral, and using the sails, drives me crazy. Then again my wife says it dosen't take much to drive me nuts!
Stu is right. I also find that in a big blow my 285 handles much better with a reefed main and a rolled in jib. Even just a little bit of jib helps to keep the bow from turning up. I also throw my gear selector into reverse to keep the prop from turning. Read some where that it was a good thing to do. Besides that "click, click, click...." I can hear when I'm in neutral, and using the sails, drives me crazy. Then again my wife says it dosen't take much to drive me nuts!
Prop in gear
Bob, that click-click you heard was your transmission wearing itself out. If you leave it in neutral, without the engine running, the transmission fluid doesn't circulate. So you have a dry shaft / transmission. Putting the gear in reverse keeps that from happening. Also, the spinning prop isn't that much of a reduction in turbulence, since it doesn't freewheel all that well. Plenty of discussion on this in the archives.
Bob, that click-click you heard was your transmission wearing itself out. If you leave it in neutral, without the engine running, the transmission fluid doesn't circulate. So you have a dry shaft / transmission. Putting the gear in reverse keeps that from happening. Also, the spinning prop isn't that much of a reduction in turbulence, since it doesn't freewheel all that well. Plenty of discussion on this in the archives.
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