Sculling

[Ken Prichard]

I notice helmsmen who constantly have the helm in motion, more so with tillers and more so as the air lightens. I'm pretty sure they're not even aware of what they're doing.
My understanding is the quieter the helm the less drag and it seems to me that it becomes more important as the air lightens.
I'd be interested in what the experts have to say.

 

[31seahorse]

Hello Ken,

There is no expert sitting at this computer, but.......

I've been on a few boats that had rudders shaped so that the boat would make some forward progress by "waggling" the tiller/rudder in calm water. I think it is a "no no" in racing, but I have been successful in moving toward the dock using the back and forth motion of the tiller.

Respectfully, Phil

 

[Stu Jackson]

Sculling with a tiller is a great way to move the boat forward in calm conditions. Not so good when you're helming. The idea is to find the "sweet spot" and keep it there. Works with a wheel, too.

 

[anchorclanker]

A steady hand on the tiller. I read that somewhere.

 

[Benny17441]

Maybe compensating for an unbalanced trim?

 

[Gudenuph]

He may be compensating for random cross currents with an asymmetrical sculling motion. It's sometimes necessary in very light air and at very slow speeds just to maintain the course.
FWIW, Geohan

 

[Johnb]

I figure that there are some people who are tuned to what the boat is doing. Some are more challenged in that department and just don't seem to be able to discern when the boat is going straight and when it is drifting off course. They tend to steer in an unending serires of over corrections. The ones that have the feel often can steer by doing nothing for long periods except for occasional adjustments for wind and current, and even on a 20,000 pound boat, crew moving about.

 

[Don Guillette]

All a mate has to do to determine visually if he's sailing a straight course is look over his shoulder and check his wake.

 

[Anchor Down]

Try a Little Tenderness

I notice helmsmen who constantly have the helm in motion, more so with tillers and more so as the air lightens. I'm pretty sure they're not even aware of what they're doing.
My understanding is the quieter the helm the less drag and it seems to me that it becomes more important as the air lightens.
I'd be interested in what the experts have to say.

You're right. Gross correction on the tiller is like sup-optimum sail trim: you can get away with it when there's a fresh breeze and the effects are hidden, but in light air the drag it causes is much more apparent on performance. In light air, you must pay close attention, and although your adjustments may be frequent, they should not be large.

Next time, try to notice if those skippers' adjustments are coarse or fine: that will distinguish the poor sailors from the skilled.

 

[sinnettc]

I'll work the tiller as the wind shifts, which it tends to do on our lake.

I'll scull hard to turn if there's real changeable zephyrs and we're essentially drifting. If I need to get to the slip I rock the boat side to side which generates lift on the keel somehow. I can get 1-1.5 kts that way.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Gotta be the good lookin' girl on the foredeck!

 

[GorillaToast]

I sculled my rudder for an hour and a half once in whitecaps to keep from drifting into the rocky shoreline whilst I was waiting for a tow after my motor seized up. It worked well, and provided a great cardio and upper body workout.

 

[onecoolair]

j-24 days

I notice helmsmen who constantly have the helm in motion, more so with tillers and more so as the air lightens. I'm pretty sure they're not even aware of what they're doing.
My understanding is the quieter the helm the less drag and it seems to me that it becomes more important as the air lightens.
I'd be interested in what the experts have to say.

In my j-24 days we would move the boat from crane area to slip all the time by sculling .To get her really going fast we would rock her from ear to ear while working the helm. 3.7 knots! Never sailed with an engine. Got stuck 5 miles out in the bay once when the wind totally died. A friend from the yacht club was out in his 45' motor yacht saw us sculling home, stopped by to make fun of us. Then gave us a tow at 25 knots!!

 

[Sublime]

I'll work the tiller as the wind shifts, which it tends to do on our lake.

I do the same. The wind shifts so much where I am that crew would be worn out in half an hour.

Also, I like to look around and sometimes turn the boat when I do.

Also I like a little bit of weather helm since I sail alone a lot, and if a gust blows up (we can have 5 kts with gusts to 20 kts), I've got to correct at the helm or I'd be adjusting sheets constantly. The gusts will be from a different direction as well.