[Rhodes22-list] tacking in heavy air

[William E. Wickman]

Thanks for the pointers.  The wind was a bit shifty, but not too exterme.  The chop was small due to the small area of the lake that I was sailing in.  The velocity of the gusts just seemed very high relative to the steady state wind velocity.

Bill W
--------------------------




----- Original Message -----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces
Sent: 03/06/2005 08:53 AM
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] tacking in heavy air

Bill,

Sounds pretty heavy and gusty.  Did the gusts change direction as well as
increase velocity?  How big were the waves?  Those are difficult conditions.
Since you asked, here's my 2 cents:

1.        You must keep the boat moving, so don't pinch.  Pointing high is
only for moderate air.  Get all 3,000 plus pounds going as fast as possible
on a loose close hauled course.  If your going slowly, the rudder won't work
as well and you can stall when heading up.

2.        When you tack, don't be timid.  Put the tiller down in a
deliberate motion.  Buddy Melges says move the tiller down slowly at first,
then increase the rate, pause just an instant at maximum angle after bow
starts to head up, then start to bring the tiller back, quickly at first,
then slowly to centerline.  You don't want to go too far and tack onto a
reach!  Maximum tiller angle should be no more than about 45 degrees off
centerline in the middle of the turn.  I think faster tacking is more "in
control" than slower tacking in these conditions.

3.    Face forward and look at the horizon moving across the bow.  This
helps keep your brain in touch with the boat's motion and heading.

4.   A little more main and a little less job can help the boat head up by
creating windward helm if there is none.

PT



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "William E. Wickman" <wewickman at duke-energy.com>
To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2005 9:01 AM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Wally, did you go sailing yesterday?


> I was out on Ft. Loudon lake yesterday and it was wild.  Wind was blowing
> 15-20 with gusts near 30.  I was furled to storm sized jib and just a
small
> triangle for the main and still got slammed by the gusts.  I was amazed
> that the boat  heeled even while I was motoring back to my slip with no
> sails at all!
>
> I had trouble tacking in this wind so here is a question for the group.
> What is the best strategy for tacking in high winds when you are reefed to
> the max?  I know that you need good boat speed, but even then the boat
just
> seemed to stall out.
>
> Bill W.
> --------------------------
>
>
> __________________________________________________
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