on several occassions, this newbie sailor, has noticed that after tacking, and especially if i'm trying to sail close to the wind, the rudder is ineffective. i've noticed that i'm holding the rudder with a noticable amount of deflection attempting to make the boat turn into the wind, but the boat is not responding, it is sailing, but not turning upwind. this seems to be more likely to happen on very light wind days. i don't think i've notice on windy days. my guess, is that i've stalled the rudder, and it is just acting like a speed brake. your thoughts will be appreciated. thank you. doug
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Light wind sailing.
A few light air tips; 1. keep crew on the lee side of the boat, 2. tack as fast as you can so that you don't loose speed, 3. bear off-wind to pick up speed and then head up-wind as you need some speed to head up-wind (has something to do with stalling the sail, the centerboard/keel as well as the rudder), 4. and possibly most important,make sure your sails are not over trimmed. I bet you are making alot of leeway (going sideways, pushed by the wind). A few links provided by others on another site. http://www.wb-sails.fi/news/95_11_Tellingtales/Tellingtales.html http://www.cruisingworld.com/article_print.jsp?ID=201073 . alan
A few light air tips; 1. keep crew on the lee side of the boat, 2. tack as fast as you can so that you don't loose speed, 3. bear off-wind to pick up speed and then head up-wind as you need some speed to head up-wind (has something to do with stalling the sail, the centerboard/keel as well as the rudder), 4. and possibly most important,make sure your sails are not over trimmed. I bet you are making alot of leeway (going sideways, pushed by the wind). A few links provided by others on another site. http://www.wb-sails.fi/news/95_11_Tellingtales/Tellingtales.html http://www.cruisingworld.com/article_print.jsp?ID=201073 . alan
216 rudder stall
When the wind really gets cooking, you will experience rudder stall at the other end of the speed spectrum. As you sheet in, and the speed continues to build, the weather helm will increase to the point where the boat will suddenly pivot into the wind and stop, in spite of how much counter pressure you hold on the tiller. On our 216, I always regarded that as a safety factor, if somewhat annoying to a speed freak!
Bob Cowgill (now with a JY15) Cocoa, Florida
When the wind really gets cooking, you will experience rudder stall at the other end of the speed spectrum. As you sheet in, and the speed continues to build, the weather helm will increase to the point where the boat will suddenly pivot into the wind and stop, in spite of how much counter pressure you hold on the tiller. On our 216, I always regarded that as a safety factor, if somewhat annoying to a speed freak!
Bob Cowgill (now with a JY15) Cocoa, Florida- Status