Ahoy, When is the best time to release one sheet and haul in on the other when tacking so that the jib will flog the least? Thanks, Yeto
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timing is everything
In my ASA training we were taught that after the helmsman calls "helms alee!" he throws the helm over and just as the boat comes fully to weather he stops the wheel/tiller and hesitates as the new loaded sheet is hauled in and brought under control. This hesitation is ever so brief and the crew on the sheet must be ready to trim the sheet to the correct tightness. All of this is assuming you are not single handling. When single handling I get in front of the wheel with the auto helm on and grab both sheets. Then I push the buttons for the tack on the auto helm and handle the sheets from there. Speed and timing are of the essence. Practice it until it becomes natural. If you don't have an auto pilot I recommend you get one for easier single handling. Mike
In my ASA training we were taught that after the helmsman calls "helms alee!" he throws the helm over and just as the boat comes fully to weather he stops the wheel/tiller and hesitates as the new loaded sheet is hauled in and brought under control. This hesitation is ever so brief and the crew on the sheet must be ready to trim the sheet to the correct tightness. All of this is assuming you are not single handling. When single handling I get in front of the wheel with the auto helm on and grab both sheets. Then I push the buttons for the tack on the auto helm and handle the sheets from there. Speed and timing are of the essence. Practice it until it becomes natural. If you don't have an auto pilot I recommend you get one for easier single handling. Mike
What does "fully to weather " mean?
Is that when the boat is pointed straight into the wind? Thanks, Yeto
Is that when the boat is pointed straight into the wind? Thanks, Yeto
Backwind...
Again assuming that you have somewhat capable crew- as the boat comes to weather, a correctly trimmed jib will just start to backwind up near the luff. That's the release point. Getting it back in on the new sheet really will have more effect on the amount of flogging the sail does. Assuming you are cruising with a dacron sail, I wouldn't worry about a little flogging. A little flog is inevitable if you have a larger overlapping sail.
Again assuming that you have somewhat capable crew- as the boat comes to weather, a correctly trimmed jib will just start to backwind up near the luff. That's the release point. Getting it back in on the new sheet really will have more effect on the amount of flogging the sail does. Assuming you are cruising with a dacron sail, I wouldn't worry about a little flogging. A little flog is inevitable if you have a larger overlapping sail.
This is an interesting question
... and the answer sort of depends on your boat, what type of sails you have, and whether you have crew or are single handling. Since I mostly sail alone, and mostly use a big 150 genoa, getting the sail tacked quickly and smoothly is important. What I do is begin to turn the boat thru the eye of the wind. Once the wind gets on to the lee side of the genoa, it starts to backwind it and I use that force for a few seconds to help push the bow over quicker. At that moment, I release the lee sheet and begin to winch in the sheet on the new tack. If I do it precisely right, I do not even need to use the sheet winch at all. Practice this a few times and see if it works for you , too.
... and the answer sort of depends on your boat, what type of sails you have, and whether you have crew or are single handling. Since I mostly sail alone, and mostly use a big 150 genoa, getting the sail tacked quickly and smoothly is important. What I do is begin to turn the boat thru the eye of the wind. Once the wind gets on to the lee side of the genoa, it starts to backwind it and I use that force for a few seconds to help push the bow over quicker. At that moment, I release the lee sheet and begin to winch in the sheet on the new tack. If I do it precisely right, I do not even need to use the sheet winch at all. Practice this a few times and see if it works for you , too.
Tacking
As you begin to tack, let out a foot or two on the jibsheet, then wait till the sail starts backwinding before you release the old sheet. Pull the new sheet in as the wind pushes the sail across, but don't pull the sail with the new sheet, let the wind do the work.
As you begin to tack, let out a foot or two on the jibsheet, then wait till the sail starts backwinding before you release the old sheet. Pull the new sheet in as the wind pushes the sail across, but don't pull the sail with the new sheet, let the wind do the work.
a couple of footnotes to the technique
I found out this weekend at a North U. seminar that the little line some sails have sewn in along their leech is supposed to be tightened enough to prevent the leech from getting worn out by flogging. My furling jib has this as well as the main, so those that have it may want to use it. It doesn't need to be taken out of the main when that sail is put away, but nothing was said about the jib. If you're having problems with riding turns on the winches, try reducing your turns to just 2 rather than 4...
I found out this weekend at a North U. seminar that the little line some sails have sewn in along their leech is supposed to be tightened enough to prevent the leech from getting worn out by flogging. My furling jib has this as well as the main, so those that have it may want to use it. It doesn't need to be taken out of the main when that sail is put away, but nothing was said about the jib. If you're having problems with riding turns on the winches, try reducing your turns to just 2 rather than 4...
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