Just got back from a one week sail on the Chesapeake. Best sail of the year. However, I was on the Choptank and the wind were about 18k. Tried to tack to my port but the boat stalled dead into the wind. This happened one more time. Other boats seemed to make the change okay but mine just stalled. Any advice.
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Jim Maroldo
Bob, I'm no expert by any means, but I've had the same happen to me on my Hunter 23. Under the higher wind conditions, I have found that it's more important to pick up as much speed as possible before tacking. During the manauever, too much rudder input will kill off your forward speed before you come about and put you in irons every time.
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Doug T.
Momentum
Jim's right -- you need more forward momentum. Your rudder has a lot of work to do to turn you into the wind and on to the other tack. If there's not enough water rushing over it (forward speed) it can't control the direction of your boat.
Jim's right -- you need more forward momentum. Your rudder has a lot of work to do to turn you into the wind and on to the other tack. If there's not enough water rushing over it (forward speed) it can't control the direction of your boat.
Use sails to help
Keep your boatspeed up, then ease the jib a bit and harden up on the main as well. This will induce more weather helm which will help turn the boat without having to use as much rudder (drag). Also, try not to release the leeward jibsheet completely until the bow has come through the eye of the wind. The extra push on the (now) backwinded jib will help bring the bow around. Good luck. Peter H23 "Raven"
Keep your boatspeed up, then ease the jib a bit and harden up on the main as well. This will induce more weather helm which will help turn the boat without having to use as much rudder (drag). Also, try not to release the leeward jibsheet completely until the bow has come through the eye of the wind. The extra push on the (now) backwinded jib will help bring the bow around. Good luck. Peter H23 "Raven"
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Chris McLoughlin
I agree with with Peter. . .
I always let the genny backwind a second or two before tacking the sheet. Chris
I always let the genny backwind a second or two before tacking the sheet. Chris
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Bob F.
Stalling in the tack
I sail a Precision 16 and a Catalina 22. One of the definite differences that I always note is the tendency of the Precision to stall half through the turn where the Catalina carries on through. I have attributed it to momentum of boat weight. I have also found that by releasing the jib to allow it to backwind about the same time that I swing the tiller really helps. As you harden up on the old lee side the jib helps pull the nose through the wind. You have definitely got to have some boat speed to get it through the turn.
I sail a Precision 16 and a Catalina 22. One of the definite differences that I always note is the tendency of the Precision to stall half through the turn where the Catalina carries on through. I have attributed it to momentum of boat weight. I have also found that by releasing the jib to allow it to backwind about the same time that I swing the tiller really helps. As you harden up on the old lee side the jib helps pull the nose through the wind. You have definitely got to have some boat speed to get it through the turn.
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Michael McCann
Bob; I also agree with Peter, I have always left the jib sheet alone until the bow is through the wind, and it has back winded to push the bow over then tack the jib. Easing the jib sheet slightly before the tack will power up, and keep your boat speed up to help with the turn. Mike
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Brian Stevenson
An alternative to the Tack
Bob, I agree with the others that momentum and sail set are the key. We have a lake here (Lake Winnipeg)that is almost the size of Lake Erie, but it is shallow---around 20-40 feet in the south end. We get some high wind, the waves are very close together to a height of maybe 6-8 feet in a storm. By the time you climb one wave you loose boat speed and even withe speed gained coming down the back, the next wave can be so close that the wave will prevent a tack. It simply throws you back to your old course. Our answer-- the jibe. We haul in the main as close as possible and then go through the wind and then let out the main again and get to the new course. While your question was on tacking, in difficult conditions the jibe works.
Bob, I agree with the others that momentum and sail set are the key. We have a lake here (Lake Winnipeg)that is almost the size of Lake Erie, but it is shallow---around 20-40 feet in the south end. We get some high wind, the waves are very close together to a height of maybe 6-8 feet in a storm. By the time you climb one wave you loose boat speed and even withe speed gained coming down the back, the next wave can be so close that the wave will prevent a tack. It simply throws you back to your old course. Our answer-- the jibe. We haul in the main as close as possible and then go through the wind and then let out the main again and get to the new course. While your question was on tacking, in difficult conditions the jibe works.
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ted
get on a reach sometimes.
from old dinghy days - found on our 26.5 when that the bow will not go round the other day despite a stiff breeze - got on a close or even a beam reach, get the boat moving, push the helm down - if a tiller - hard and she will cross the wind like a good 'un. in other words like we were always told, a stationary boat is the worst that can happen in performance, safety and all else. can go about really well from a broad reach. secret to it all - keeping the boat moving in the water. perhaps close quarter british tidal upbringing taught me a lot. anyway, i hope this is another string to the bow - no two situations are ever identical - no two boats - no two conditions - no two skippers. ted.
from old dinghy days - found on our 26.5 when that the bow will not go round the other day despite a stiff breeze - got on a close or even a beam reach, get the boat moving, push the helm down - if a tiller - hard and she will cross the wind like a good 'un. in other words like we were always told, a stationary boat is the worst that can happen in performance, safety and all else. can go about really well from a broad reach. secret to it all - keeping the boat moving in the water. perhaps close quarter british tidal upbringing taught me a lot. anyway, i hope this is another string to the bow - no two situations are ever identical - no two boats - no two conditions - no two skippers. ted.
T
ted
get on a reach sometimes.
from old dinghy days - found on our 26.5 when that the bow will not go round the other day despite a stiff breeze - got on a close or even a beam reach, get the boat moving, push the helm down - if a tiller - hard and she will cross the wind like a good 'un. in other words like we were always told, a stationary boat is the worst that can happen in performance, safety and all else. can go about really well from a broad reach. secret to it all - keeping the boat moving in the water. perhaps close quarter british tidal upbringing taught me a lot. anyway, i hope this is another string to the bow - no two situations are ever identical - no two boats - no two conditions - no two skippers. ted.
from old dinghy days - found on our 26.5 when that the bow will not go round the other day despite a stiff breeze - got on a close or even a beam reach, get the boat moving, push the helm down - if a tiller - hard and she will cross the wind like a good 'un. in other words like we were always told, a stationary boat is the worst that can happen in performance, safety and all else. can go about really well from a broad reach. secret to it all - keeping the boat moving in the water. perhaps close quarter british tidal upbringing taught me a lot. anyway, i hope this is another string to the bow - no two situations are ever identical - no two boats - no two conditions - no two skippers. ted.
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