[Rhodes22-list] Sailing Technique Question

[TN Rhodey]

Mark,

Sometimes on a gusty day furled sails are great when a gust hits but not 
enough canvas between the lulls. If you want to maintain speed on gusty days 
try using your traveler. The key to sailing R22 fast is to keep the head 
sail driving. In gusty conditions a slight backwind on the main and moving 
the traveler to windward will help keep the boat flat, fast, and ready for 
gusts (choice C). I sail solo in heavy winds often. Cross sheeting can be a 
big help but it does make it hard to move around. If a gusts hit I ease 
traveler, if that is not enough I will head up, and if that is not enough I 
will ease main. My last choice is easing jib sheets. In gusty confitions it 
is very important to keep your eye on the water so you can read the gusts 
before they hit. If you do this you will have a much calmer ride and time to 
make the proper adjustment. Also if you really aren't trying to make a 
destination raising the CB does reduces heeling. Of course you create lee 
way but if you just want to sail fast and flat what does it matter?

Wally.....posting using wifi on the river!




>From: mputnam1 at aol.com
>Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Sailing Technique Question
>Date: Fri, 07 Jul 2006 14:14:12 -0400
>
>A basic sailing technique question:
>
>When sailing in 15 knot winds with 20 knot gusts last Sunday (I was sailing 
>faily close to the wind), I found the boat heeled quite a bit on the gusts. 
>  I expected this given what I know about the R-22, but I wanted to know if 
>you all thought the best course of action was to:
>
>a) turn into the wind a little more when the gust hits and leave the jib 
>and main sheeted where they are;
>
>b) try and let out the main or jib a little when the gust hits, even though 
>there's not much time to react and the boat could be well-heeled over by 
>the time I am able to let out either sail; or
>
>c) sail with the main a little more let out than the jib to control heeling 
>before gusts ever hit.  This is what a sailing instructor recently told me, 
>but that seems a little odd to me.
>
>I know some of you love to bury the rail, but I'm not at that point yet ... 
>count me as someone who likes my boat to sail a little more towards level.
>
>I learned how to sail on smaller craft like Lasers where I held the sheet 
>in my hand and when the gusts hit, I'd just let it out a little.  With the 
>jib sheet cleated on the R-22 and a little more out of reach, I'm not sure 
>what the best approach would be ...
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>- Mark P.
>
>P.S. Ed, I'll confess, I didn't check the archives on this.  I wanted to 
>get a quick email out while at work ... so please forgive me.
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