Single Handed Jibe

[Warren Milberg]

I'm curious to hear how all of you jibe your boat when sailing alone. In my case, I tend to bring the boat onto a very broad reach. From there, I try to get the boat dead downwind so that I can bring the headsail over and sail wing-and-wing. Now things get tricky as I step in front of the wheel, continue to turn the wheel gently while grabbing the mainsheet tackle. As the boat continues to the other side of the wind, I bring the sail over by hand and slowly let out some main sheet. Then I get back behind the wheel and am thankful all went well . Yet if I'm alone and the wind is really up, I never jibe. Instead, I do the "chicken jibe" of wearing ship 270 deg around the other way. Whatever works, works. What do you do?

 

[Bad Obsession]

My method

I will get to the wing on wing part. I will then take the main and wench it in as far as I can get it. I then adjust the autopilot course by 20 degrees and let the main come over. I then let the main sheet out and then I sit back and eat lunch. It is pretty simple, really.

 

[Dennis W.]

Easy Jibe

Assuming I want to go wing and wing I first set the jib on the new tack poled out. Then ease the traveller to leeward and haul the main sheet in tight. Now move the traveller to weather and adjust course to bring main across. Trim/ease jib and main for new heading. No muss, no fuss even with 20kts apparent.

 

[Mike1956]

With my C22

When I want to gybe, I hold my heading and bring the mainsheet into the center as much as possible. I do not want the boom to swing over with a lot of mainsheet out and create a high shock load on the rigging. After I'm sheeted in, I change my heading, and allow the wind to change over to the other side of the mainsail. I then slowly sheet out until my mainsail is where it is needed. this works so smoothly that most passengers don't even know we changed course.

 

[s sauer]

Hunter 28.5 Jibe

I'd add one thing about jibing a 28.5 and that's to use of the 3:1 and 6:1 mainsheet tackle to bring the boom to center as you jibe and then release it under control, and you need to be fast and in control on the release side to keep from rounding up. I don't think I'd have a pole up single handing in a rising wind and would be using a smaller Genoa or jib anyway.

 

[Benny17441]

Not as carefully as you, Warren.

I'll bring in the mainsheet and center the main to avoid boom slam. Simultaneously I'll start turning the wheel and once I cross over I'll start releasing the mainsheet to trim the main. I do not pay attention to the headsail until the jibe is completed. After the main has been set I'll move the headsail over. To me "wing on wing" is a different operation and not necessarily related with a jibe. Most of the times I use "wing on wing" I never jibe. My reason for leaving the headsail alone until the end is that as I center the boom the headsail fully takes over and continues to drive the boat downwind. Once I'm on the other side of the wind and start releasing the main sheet it takes over as the headsail collapses and becomes backwinded. I don't linger at DDW and cross over quickly to a faster point of sail. By not having to worry about the boom I perform the maneuver quite easily and carefree. One hand for the mainsheet and the other for the wheel. After that moving the headsail over is just like tacking.

 

[novelman17130]

The SAFEST way is to make two tacks which brings you on the opposite side jibe. Works for me even on my 22' Venture and I don't feel unsafe at any time.Duane "Novelman"

 

[Dick Westwood]

main sheeting

Warren:I do it the easy way. I don't attempt to wing and wing. Instead, when the jib begins to come across, I back off the jibe a bit - sailing just a tad more upwind so the jib fills - and trim the main all the way in. Jibe. Reset jib. Ease main.For me, wing and wing is a tricky point of sail to maintain, especially if I'm going to be moving my weight around in my (20 foot boat). I w&w only as an end in itself when I absolutely have to sail dead downwind. I probably wouldn't do it even then if I didn't have to justify my investment in a whisker pole!