Hi, When I am tacking to port, it seems to be really difficult to tack back to starboard. Feels like the ruddur has to be pushed all the way for the longest time before the boat responds. I often have to do a 360 degree turn to tack back to startboard. Could this be because my mast is unbalanced (inclined to port maybe?). I don;t have the same problem when I am tacked to starboard and want to tack to port. I am a new sailor, so forgive the ignorance. Suresh
symptoms of an unbalaned mast
- Thread starter suresh
- Start date
- Status
More likely you don't have enough boat
speed on the one tack. Nancy gets into this and complains that she doesn't have control, but the boat isn't moving. I tell her to fall off the wind and build some speed and then tack. My guess is that you are trying to sail too close to the wind on one of your tacks.
speed on the one tack. Nancy gets into this and complains that she doesn't have control, but the boat isn't moving. I tell her to fall off the wind and build some speed and then tack. My guess is that you are trying to sail too close to the wind on one of your tacks.
It would more likely..
It would more likely be that the mast is leaning to far forward without enough "rake" or that you are over powering the main and have no helm because your either carrying to much canvas for the conditions or the main is not adjusted right. A little port or starboard mast lean will affect the boat less than no aft rake will. With a mast lean to port or starboard you'll notice better speed on one tack over another but it should not impact your tacking like you describe. Can you give us a better description such as wind speed, close hauled, reach, beam reach, vang status, out haul status etc..
It would more likely be that the mast is leaning to far forward without enough "rake" or that you are over powering the main and have no helm because your either carrying to much canvas for the conditions or the main is not adjusted right. A little port or starboard mast lean will affect the boat less than no aft rake will. With a mast lean to port or starboard you'll notice better speed on one tack over another but it should not impact your tacking like you describe. Can you give us a better description such as wind speed, close hauled, reach, beam reach, vang status, out haul status etc..
Equal tacks?
In addition to the other suggestions here are some more comments and questions. As far as your mast is concerned it should not lean to one side or the other, port or starboard, while sitting at the dock with no sails up. Depending on the boat it's OK to have mast rake, where the top of the mast is bent back, to some degree. When is the last time the mast was down? If it was down, who re-stepped it? Was it someone who knew how to rig it? Even if you were off to some degree I think you'd notice a difference in the way she sails on one tack versus the other. You didn't mention anything about that, just the major tack of 360 degrees. In regards to the tacks, you mention needing to do a 360 tack. That's a full turn which doesn't make sense. Do you know where you are in reference to the wind before tacking? Are you sure you're coming from an equal tack to an equal tack? In other words if you're on port tack and 60 degrees off the wind, are you tacking to a point 60 degrees off starboard? What are you using as a reference for the wind? If it's an electronic instrument are you sure it's telling you the truth? Is it simply a masthead arrow? Are you paying any attention to wind direction prior to and after a tack? In your case you could be further off the wind on port tack than you think. When you tack back to starboard it seems like it takes longer to do so because you actually have to come through the wind further than when on opposite tack. Is there a difference in the feel of the tiller from one tack to the other? Give us some more info and perhaps we can help. Mike
In addition to the other suggestions here are some more comments and questions. As far as your mast is concerned it should not lean to one side or the other, port or starboard, while sitting at the dock with no sails up. Depending on the boat it's OK to have mast rake, where the top of the mast is bent back, to some degree. When is the last time the mast was down? If it was down, who re-stepped it? Was it someone who knew how to rig it? Even if you were off to some degree I think you'd notice a difference in the way she sails on one tack versus the other. You didn't mention anything about that, just the major tack of 360 degrees. In regards to the tacks, you mention needing to do a 360 tack. That's a full turn which doesn't make sense. Do you know where you are in reference to the wind before tacking? Are you sure you're coming from an equal tack to an equal tack? In other words if you're on port tack and 60 degrees off the wind, are you tacking to a point 60 degrees off starboard? What are you using as a reference for the wind? If it's an electronic instrument are you sure it's telling you the truth? Is it simply a masthead arrow? Are you paying any attention to wind direction prior to and after a tack? In your case you could be further off the wind on port tack than you think. When you tack back to starboard it seems like it takes longer to do so because you actually have to come through the wind further than when on opposite tack. Is there a difference in the feel of the tiller from one tack to the other? Give us some more info and perhaps we can help. Mike
thanks folks
Based on the feedback, I guess I need to watch more closely what I do when I am sailing. I am usually somewhere between close-hauled or close-reached when I am going upwind and try to turn 90 degrees from my previous heading (when tacking). Mike, when I mentioned a 360 degree tack, I meant that once I had come to port (into the wind), the boat tends to get pushed into a beam reach and does not close-haul or close-reach even with the tiller hard to port. I am then forced to jybe back (360 degree anti-clockwise) and try again. The reason I thought that the mast maybe tilted to port is that that would cause the center of the sail to shift to port and cause a anti-clockwise moment on the boat. To tell you the truth I have trouble only when I am using the jib. Maybe I need to work some more on using it properly. However, the question still remains, why only when I try to tack to port.
Based on the feedback, I guess I need to watch more closely what I do when I am sailing. I am usually somewhere between close-hauled or close-reached when I am going upwind and try to turn 90 degrees from my previous heading (when tacking). Mike, when I mentioned a 360 degree tack, I meant that once I had come to port (into the wind), the boat tends to get pushed into a beam reach and does not close-haul or close-reach even with the tiller hard to port. I am then forced to jybe back (360 degree anti-clockwise) and try again. The reason I thought that the mast maybe tilted to port is that that would cause the center of the sail to shift to port and cause a anti-clockwise moment on the boat. To tell you the truth I have trouble only when I am using the jib. Maybe I need to work some more on using it properly. However, the question still remains, why only when I try to tack to port.
answered your own question
I think you answered your own question. If the problem is only occurring when you have the jib up, the center of effort is too far forward, so as you head up, the wind overpowers the rudder and you turn off the wind instead. By using a balanced rig, (main and jib) you will resolve this issue. BTW, the same problem is usually evident when sailing under main alone. In this case adding the jib, balances the rig, and improves tacking. That having been said, shoal draft (full length keel) boats often allow the bow of the boat to pass through the eye of the wind, before releasing the loaded sheet.
I think you answered your own question. If the problem is only occurring when you have the jib up, the center of effort is too far forward, so as you head up, the wind overpowers the rudder and you turn off the wind instead. By using a balanced rig, (main and jib) you will resolve this issue. BTW, the same problem is usually evident when sailing under main alone. In this case adding the jib, balances the rig, and improves tacking. That having been said, shoal draft (full length keel) boats often allow the bow of the boat to pass through the eye of the wind, before releasing the loaded sheet.
I have an old low aspect rig with a modified
full keel. It will NOT sail to the weather under jib only.I must have the main pulling or the jib will just pull the boat off the wind. When we tack we leave the working jib sheet set until the jib is back winded and it pulls the bow around to the new tack. If we are quick we can set the new sheet without grinding the winch. She doesn't tack as quickly as a fin keel but she doesn't lose much speed on her tacks.
full keel. It will NOT sail to the weather under jib only.I must have the main pulling or the jib will just pull the boat off the wind. When we tack we leave the working jib sheet set until the jib is back winded and it pulls the bow around to the new tack. If we are quick we can set the new sheet without grinding the winch. She doesn't tack as quickly as a fin keel but she doesn't lose much speed on her tacks.
- Status