New Skipper

[Florin {VACATIONER}]

The admiral decided to be a skipper while I fished. Turns out she did really good for not having sailed since junior high.

This is soooo relaxing.

I think I'll take the rest of the day off and we'll go for another sailing adventure on our local lake.

Cheers

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[Florin {VACATIONER}]

Since we've raised the cabin roof by 6" and we haven't got the foam seat cushions made yet, the best spot for the skipper is sitting up by the helm. This way you get a full view up-ahead and have all controls at hand.

We haven't had her healing good yet 'cause we haven't really had any wind to speak of. Strongest we've encountered so far was about 5-10kt.

While beating to windward in very light aires she seems to have troubles tacking... she slowly goes though the wind and then sometimes she doesn't have enough speed and momentum to get to the other side... so she falls back off on the initial tack. And then she drifts. Any trick to this?

Thanks

Florin

[Mike Pennington]

Yep,

Fall off down wind a little to gain some speed then tack. Though thats why you'll see my oars on deck a lot. Some times a well placed stroke solves the problem, too.

I sit up on the stern also at times, I bet six inches of hight does get in the way of the forward view. But I wouldn't mind another six inches of head room either. I learn at the first of the season each year, real quick, to keep low :roll:

[Florin {VACATIONER}]

Yep Mike that's what we've ended up doing... we now keep the 7' oars on deck handy for action. We've had to do that the other day a couple of times.... errrrr.... we've had to paddle to the docks twice.... must have been about 1/4 mile distance each time. Late at night must have been about 10pm the wind died down to nothing....and we wanted to get out... so we started paddling>>>the GPS said we were doing a whole 2mph...just when we got to the docks the wind picked up again...darn!!!

Cheers Mike

[Barry Pyeatt]

You might want to toss a couple hundred pounds of sand bags in the forepeak. Keeping the bow down will aid in tacking in light air. It also helps the visibility forward. When the wind comes up a bit you will appreciate having the bow down so the keel/chine relationship is working better for you.

Also as Mike said ease off the wind a bit before tacking so you get as much momentum as possible before turning into it. Typically, you are already sailing as close to the wind as you can get before tacking. Easing off some will get the momentum working for you and then swing into the tack. Even in light air, there should be enough momentum to bring you around. If the wind is really light, you can sit on the downwind side to heel it over a bit. This will help as well as you bag out the sails a bit, helping you to get a bit more momentum working for you and the chine down attitude works better to help you turn.

[Florin {VACATIONER}]

We are planning on putting a couple of good sized batteries in the forepeak. I'm guessing they weigh about 50# each. Then the anchor with the chain and rode that should add another maybe 25#. We're thinking of keeping our fresh water supply there too. Looks like we'll get to 200# in there anyway. THe electrical system won't get done 'til next season thou'

We did try tacking today the way you guys explained and it does work better.

Thanks

[mustangermatt]

I have never sailed a weekender, but on larger traditional boats I have sailed backwinding the jib usually does the trick as well.

Ease the jib (stay sail if its a cutter) as you ease off the wind keeping the main hard in. As you come around into the wind the main will be pushing the stern downwind while the eased headsail sheets allow the bow to come up. As the bow comes into the wind haul the sheets back in (don't switch sides yet) and the backwinded headsails will pull the bow right around. Once the main begins to draw you let the headsail/s come across and sheet them home, and off you go.

Finally, nothing against the weekender but remember that the gaff sail and full keel are a terrible combination to windward. Be sure not to pinch the wind too much since this will "stall" that board your dragging around below causing huge drag. This in turn results in decreased steerageway and increased leeway, which on most boats more than negates any gain you might have gotten from pointing closer to your intended heading.

Hope this helps

[Fintan Murphy]

I've had no problems tacking so far.

The reason, as Mustangermatt explained, is that, whenever the wind is light, I backwind the jib.

All this means is that, when you start the tack, leave the jib cleated untill just after the boat has passed through the wind. You will see the jib pushing the bow around. Once the bow passes through the wind, then uncleat the jib and sheet in on the new tack. Of course this only works if you have two jib sheets.

One other trick I use, if I am caught in Irons, or have raised the main and need to move off, is to hold the main out in the direction I want to go. This will bring the boat off the wind like a weather vane. Once I am off the wind, I sheet in the main and away I go.

[Florin {VACATIONER}]

Backwinding the jib wouldn't work for us right now since we have a clubfoot. We were thinking of changing to 2 jib sheets but we were talked out of it and we're willing to give this another try. About the only thing we can do now is just ballast the front a bit and put up with it.

Thanks