How to heave-to with a ketch rig?

[Bonnie Gilmore]

Cape Dory Ketch owners,

We are former CD owners who now have a very big Hans Christian ketch
[actually, a cutter/ketch] and are interested in your thoughts about the best [easy and efficient] way to heave-to. Do you back the mizzen and the jib for better balance? Leave the mizzen centered? Or ..??? We like the sail plan options of the ketch rig, but with relatively few around, haven't bumped into anyone with expertise on this. I know you guys can provide us with [numerous!] thoughts. Thanks in advance.

Gilmore & Rust
HC 43 Southern Cross
Berkeley, CA



biglmore@ci.santa-rosa.ca.us

[Michael Stephano]

In a past life I was Captain of a Bowman 57 Ketch and hove to on 2 seperate occasions. In our case we hauled up a storm jib on the baby stay (cutter rig closed to the mast) and a trysail on the seperate track on the main. Jib to windward and trysail tight helm over. This kept the boat off the wind but working at about 2-3knts in 55+ wind conditions and heavy sea. We did not use the mizzen in either situation. I own a cd 30 ketch now and have not hove to in it ever. In fact I only use the mizzen when off the wind as the boat is faster and points higher with out it. Off the wind I use the mizzen and staysail combination for a little extra drive.



mundo@visi.net

[Dot Mace]

Hi;

We don't own a ketch and I can't say we've ever had to heave to. However I thought I'd refer you to a couple of references, (both old but worthwhile) "Chapman's Piloting, Seamanship and Small Boat Handling". There is a reference on how and when to Heave To. Generally, you heave to only when conditions get so bad that the boat can not make headway, (I suppose from excessive heeling, rounding up and or/ broaching). Whether it is a sloop, cutter or ketch; the procedure is the same. You lash your helm (in your case wheel, to make the boat head up). You replace your headsail with a storm sail, and back it to windward, to hold the bow into the waves (rather than risking taking the waves abeam). And replace the main with a storm trisail and sheet it flat. The mizzen isn't used. Ideally, this should keep the boat slightly off the wind and making very slow headway.
The other reference is "Heavy Weather Sailing" (1981),by K Adlalrd Coles. Hope this is helpful, and hope you never find yourselves in situations where you would have to "heave to".

Dot
You also shouldCape Dory Ketch owners,

We are former CD owners who now have a very big Hans Christian ketch
[actually, a cutter/ketch] and are interested in your thoughts about the best [easy and efficient] way to heave-to. Do you back the mizzen and the jib for better balance? Leave the mizzen centered? Or ..??? We like the sail plan options of the ketch rig, but with relatively few around, haven't bumped into anyone with expertise on this. I know you guys can provide us with [numerous!] thoughts. Thanks in advance.

Gilmore & Rust
HC 43 Southern Cross
Berkeley, CA

dmace@jps.net

[Neil Gordon]

>>Generally, you heave to only when conditions get so bad that the boat can not make headway, ...<<

There are other times... sometimes, you just want to stop, take a rest, grab a sandwich or whatever. It doesn't have to be storm conditions. You don't need a storm jib, etc... just back the jib you are using, lash the tiller to leeward so the boat heads up and trim the main so the boat is happy.

Is something you should learn to do before you have to!


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



neil@nrgordon.com

[Dot Mace]

Points well taken. In my post, I paraphrased the reference in Chapman's. However, I have seen others do just as you've mentioned, stop for a bit to get settled, take a rest or whatever. Likewise, I'm in full agreement about being familiar with necessary boat handling techniques, before an adverse situation arises.

Thanks,
Dot Mace

>>Generally, you heave to only when conditions get so bad that the boat can not make headway, ...<<

There are other times... sometimes, you just want to stop, take a rest, grab a sandwich or whatever. It doesn't have to be storm conditions. You don't need a storm jib, etc... just back the jib you are using, lash the tiller to leeward so the boat heads up and trim the main so the boat is happy.

Is something you should learn to do before you have to!


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167

dmace@jps.net

[Catherine Monaghan]

Here's a resource I thought everyone might find useful:

<a href="http://humboldt1.com/ar/literary/knight.htm">Sailing</a>, by E.F. Knight

Chapter 7, How to Sail a Yacht, contains instructions for heaving to. In his example Knight uses a yawl which should heave to in similar fashion to a ketch.

Hope this helps.

We have hove to in order to reef our cutter-rigged CD32. If you heave to, you don't have to use the engine to keep the boat to windward -- just one more reason to know how to do it.

catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

Cape Dory Ketch owners,

We are former CD owners who now have a very big Hans Christian ketch
[actually, a cutter/ketch] and are interested in your thoughts about the best [easy and efficient] way to heave-to. Do you back the mizzen and the jib for better balance? Leave the mizzen centered? Or ..??? We like the sail plan options of the ketch rig, but with relatively few around, haven't bumped into anyone with expertise on this. I know you guys can provide us with [numerous!] thoughts. Thanks in advance.

Gilmore & Rust
HC 43 Southern Cross
Berkeley, CA

catherine_monaghan@merck.com

[Catherine Monaghan]

If you're interested in other "nautical" online books, check out <a href="http://humboldt1.com/ar/literary/">Arthur Ransome Literary Pages</a>. You'll find such titles as Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe; Moby Dick, by Herman Melville; Sailing Alone Around the World, by Joshua Slocum and others.

Enjoy.

catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 <a href="http://www.hometown.aol.com/bcomet/real ... ization</a>, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

Here's a resource I thought everyone might find useful:

<a href="http://humboldt1.com/ar/literary/knight.htm">Sailing</a>, by E.F. Knight

Chapter 7, How to Sail a Yacht, contains instructions for heaving to. In his example Knight uses a yawl which should heave to in similar fashion to a ketch.

Hope this helps.

We have hove to in order to reef our cutter-rigged CD32. If you heave to, you don't have to use the engine to keep the boat to windward -- just one more reason to know how to do it.

catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

Cape Dory Ketch owners,

We are former CD owners who now have a very big Hans Christian ketch
[actually, a cutter/ketch] and are interested in your thoughts about the best [easy and efficient] way to heave-to. Do you back the mizzen and the jib for better balance? Leave the mizzen centered? Or ..??? We like the sail plan options of the ketch rig, but with relatively few around, haven't bumped into anyone with expertise on this. I know you guys can provide us with [numerous!] thoughts. Thanks in advance.

Gilmore & Rust
HC 43 Southern Cross
Berkeley, CA

catherine_monaghan@merck.com

[Neil Gordon]

>>We have hove to in order to reef our cutter-rigged CD32. If you heave to, you don't have to use the engine to keep the boat to windward ...<<

It also slows the boat relative to motoring into the wind, which reduced the apparent wind speed. It steadies the boat nicely... lots better than motoring into head seas. And... it puts the main in the lee of the jib, so it's lots easier to reef.

As I said, it's also a nice way just to stop sailing on a nice day... if there's sea room... and sit back and relax for lunch or whatever.

Heave to on a stbd tack and you'll have right or way over almost everybody.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



neil@nrgordon.com

[Catherine Monaghan]

Right on, Neil!

We've even hove to just to make it easier for someone to use the head!

catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 <a href="http://www.hometown.aol.com/bcomet/real ... ization</a>, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

>>We have hove to in order to reef our cutter-rigged CD32. If you heave to, you don't have to use the engine to keep the boat to windward ...<<

It also slows the boat relative to motoring into the wind, which reduced the apparent wind speed. It steadies the boat nicely... lots better than motoring into head seas. And... it puts the main in the lee of the jib, so it's lots easier to reef.

As I said, it's also a nice way just to stop sailing on a nice day... if there's sea room... and sit back and relax for lunch or whatever.

Heave to on a stbd tack and you'll have right or way over almost everybody.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167

catherine_monaghan@merck.com

[Neil Gordon]

>>We've even hove to just to make it easier for someone to use the head!<<

Depends who it is. <g>

When my sister in law is using the head, I usually find the need for a series of short tacks.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



neil@nrgordon.com