Tacking

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Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Lazy SOB

When we sail, we just steer the boat. Our Hunter fashions a self tending jib with a Camber Spar. Once the sails are raised it is like a stroll in the park!
 
henkmeuzelaar

henkmeuzelaar

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Jun 5, 1997
659
Coleman scanoe Irwin (ID)
A response to Joe Sanderlin's question

Joe wrote: "I typically am short handed so I sail with a furled jib only in heavy wind conditions. I am convinced that if I had full cockpit control over the reef of the main I would sail that way too, but I don't. I am comfortable with that method, but am I doing it right? This is an important question because I am about to venture out into the Atlantic and want some insight!" Not only do I agree that this is an important question but I would advise you not to venture very far into the Atlantic before getting a handle on how to reef the mainsail and use it in heavy weather. My preferred method of reefing the main in your situation (i.e. single-handing without cockpit-led reefing lines) is as follows: (1) trim the jib sheet in tight while steering as close to the wind as possible without luffing the jib (listen to the leech starting to rumble when you head up a bit too far); (2) move the traveler to leeward far enough to luff the main (i.e. point the boom into the wind rather than the entire vessel); (3) release the main halyard 6-12 inches beyond the point marked for the reef you are trying to put in; (4) pull the reef down tight on the boom; (5) tighten the main halyard down; and (6) readjust traveler and jib sheet for the desired point of sail. This all presumes that your vessel will be able to keep jogging slowly into the wind on jib alone and that the boom does not have to be moved so far to leeward (in order to luff the main) that you cannot pull the reef in anymore. If that presumption is wrong for your vessel or weather situation you may need to learn how to reef the main while hove-to. If none of this works at all you may have to use the engine plus a reliable autopilot. Success! Flying Dutchman "Rivendel II"
 
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Ray Albair

Fire up the engine

If it is blowing hard and you are having a hard time you should considered the safety aspect before going on. It is safer to fire up the engine and come in with little or no problems than it would be to risk getting in trouble with the sails up. Have a great sail.
 
henkmeuzelaar

henkmeuzelaar

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Jun 5, 1997
659
Coleman scanoe Irwin (ID)
"Iron genny" useful with 2 caveats:

(1) if the seas are very rough you want to make sure that the propellor stays submerged, the fuel tank does not have a layer of crud at the bottom, the degrees of heel are within the engine's specs and the fuel tank vent is well protected from green water; (2) starting the engine as the first step to a tactical retreat from rough conditions will often require you to make a 180 degree turn, thus forcing a tack (whether direct or as a "chicken jibe") anyhow.... The long and the short is that you will need to learn how to tack under almost any condition you might face. Use your (properly reefed) main, fall off a bit to build up speed and then start your turn when reaching the top of a slow big wave (for maximum visibility and fastest rotation). As mentioned by several others, NEVER jibe in high winds unless you and your crew are experts at it. At 25+ knots, letting the boom slam over just a couple of feet before being effectively vanged could start things ripping and breaking all over the place. If you plan to return on the engine (never MY first choice) you may want to tack without releasing the jib and reef or drop the main in the ensuing hove-to position. However, even if on the engine, a deeply reefed main is greatly preferable to no main at all to help stabilize the boat. When deciding to use the engine while returning to the harbor in heavy weather, please remind yourself of the heightened probability that the engine might stop functioning properly under these conditions, thereby leaving you to enter the harbor, dodge obstacles and dock under sail alone....... Fair winds and following seas Flying Dutchman "Rivendel II"
 
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Andy

Develop a system, stay with it

I agree completely with Alberto Zanchetta, who wrote a response earlier. So read his response. That's how I do it EVERY TIME. It doesn't matter if winds are 35 knots or 6 knots. I am an Airline Transport pilot with thousands of hours and many sailing hours as well. I do on my 35 foot Sailboat just like we do in commercial jets, it is important to think like a check list. Do it the same way every time regardless of weather or conditions. Practice, discipline, experience and good crew coordination make a safe and competent skipper.
 
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Ted

No big deal alone

I have a 320 and find tacking/jibing very easy alone or with 1 or 2 more to help. Any more, and I send to galley to fix a drink.
 
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Brian Blevins

Passengers.whats a passenger

there are no passengers on my boat. come aboard and learn to sail.If you can follow diretions well, you might even get to take the tiller for a short while,kind of a reward for paying attention.Not to mention a head break for me.Sindarin has four sails an is quite a sight when all 4 are in the breeze.
 
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Chuck

Jibing more fun

I usually do most of my sailing singlehanded, and will tack or jibe, depending on my course, however, jibing is more fun because it is more challenging.
 
J

John Day

Mr Brayshaw, Please Drop Me a Note.

Andrew If you get a spare moment, would you please drop me a note on my email, john.day@langley.af.mil or ddays@earthlink.net and tell me about the preparations you made to your yacht for your trans-Atlantic trip? I'm sailing my 380 to Bermuda next July in the West Marine rally and would like to see how my planning is shaping up. Hope to hear from you. John Day "D-Day" sv Fox III
 
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Kevin Keen

Sail boats and Passengers?

Passengers on a sail boat? I have never heard of such a thing! All guests are welcomed aboard our Ariel and told that there are no passengers onboard sailing vessels. They are expected to earn their passage, even if only as rail meat.
 
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress

There are no passengers on a sailboat

Anyone who isn't crew is ballast. :)
 
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Peter Milne

Deck Fluff

Is the name we give passengers on our boat. Peter MilneS/V Blue Heron
 
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SailboatOwners.com

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending 12/8/2002: Where do you put extra crew and guests when tacking? 50% Assigned to a task 40% In cockpit corners or pilot seats 07% On the dock where they belong 04% Down below
 
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Chris Bloor

Guests on Board

We have a dear friend named Joey who loves to sail with us, but didn't know the cockpit from the cabin or the pointy end from the back. When it was time to tack or gybe, we'd say, "Joey, wrap that red and white rope clockwise thee times around that silver thing beside the door and pull it until we say stop!" After the first summer, we could say, "Joey, in on the mainsheet." Now he does the Mack races with Bob! I don't think he'll ever have a sailboat of his own, but between us and his brother (who has a Hunter 26), he gets quite a bit of sailing time in! One more story -- Bob's mother hated sailing, but came with us because we loved it so. She finally said to us one day, "I love you both very much, but I don't share your love of sailing." Several years ago, we took her sailing on Alum Creek lake in Central Ohio on our Beneteau 23.5 in a breeze -- we'd taken a reef in the main to make it a bit more comfortable for her. As the afternoon went on, the wind calmed a bit and Bob asked me to shake out the reef. Mom had been paying more attention than we thought because she said, "Chris, the reef is just fine, just fine!" We miss you, Mom (she passed away in April). We love to get our guests involved, even the non-sailing ones, because then they'll come back! And who knows, we might corrupt -- I mean convert -- them! Chris Bloor & Bob Sheppard S/Y Great Escape III C-42 #372
 
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Tom Monroe

You have to participate ...

... on my 22 foot O'Day 'cause if you're on the boat, you're either working or in my way! Seriously, we like to take another couple or a grandchild along. I like to teach someone the tiller under power on the way out, and then let them do the steering under my direction, leaving me free to work the boat ... and later on just relax. Teaching them to tack is easy. Second time out with us (first if they express a real interest) we start talking about the sails. But people seem to "get" steering quicker than sail trim. Of course, this doesn't apply when the wind gets up, or it's a holiday weekend with drunken pontoon boaters around. Then, it's stand in the companionway while Jayne and I handle the boat. Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake
 
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Rich Thickens

Stay flexible, no surprises - use what you got....

It depends on the experience of those aboard. I either do it myslef (with the help of my good pilot friend Auto), or use help from those capable to the extent that they are capable - information I obtain in advance and confirm in controlled conditions. This way there are no surprises and everybody is happy. Also even those with no experience get training from the start in a casual, learn as you go atmosphere, so that early in the voyage they are picking things up and are able to contribute to the effort. Most folks like to be engaged to some degreee or they wouldnt be out there.
 
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