Non-responsive tiller

[John A Schwartz]

I had a strange situation recently. I was out in my CD25D on a starboard tack pointing high. I was on the Columbia river going with a strong current. I was heeled over between 22 and 25 degrees.

When I attempted to head up to tack, the boat would not respond. I put the tiller all the way over and I could not move to starboard.
I then reversed the tiller and went to port, jibed and came up on a port tack after doing a 310.

Next few tacks, everything was back to normal. It felt very strange for the boat not to respond at all. I am fairly new to sailing, just a few years, and have only owned PILGRIM since last Winter.

Any Clues?



john_schwartz@gstworld.net

[Bill]

I had a strange situation recently. I was out in my CD25D on a starboard tack pointing high. I was on the Columbia river going with a strong current. I was heeled over between 22 and 25 degrees.

When I attempted to head up to tack, the boat would not respond. I put the tiller all the way over and I could not move to starboard.
I then reversed the tiller and went to port, jibed and came up on a port tack after doing a 310.

Next few tacks, everything was back to normal. It felt very strange for the boat not to respond at all. I am fairly new to sailing, just a few years, and have only owned PILGRIM since last Winter.

Any Clues?

John

Was the current against the starboard side of the hull?

BS



cd25d@clnk.com

[John Schwartz]

I had a strange situation recently. I was out in my CD25D on a starboard tack pointing high. I was on the Columbia river going with a strong current. I was heeled over between 22 and 25 degrees.

When I attempted to head up to tack, the boat would not respond. I put the tiller all the way over and I could not move to starboard.
I then reversed the tiller and went to port, jibed and came up on a port tack after doing a 310.

Next few tacks, everything was back to normal. It felt very strange for the boat not to respond at all. I am fairly new to sailing, just a few years, and have only owned PILGRIM since last Winter.

Any Clues?

John

Was the current against the starboard side of the hull?

BS

No, the current was on the port side. The river runs due west at this point and the wind was out of the west. So the wind was coming over my starboard side and the current was pushing me on the port side.

Does this help? I don't think I explained it clearly the first time.



john_schwartz@gstworld.net

[Bill]

Soooo much for my theory!

BS

No, the current was on the port side. The river runs due west at this point and the wind was out of the west. So the wind was coming over my starboard side and the current was pushing me on the port side.

Does this help? I don't think I explained it clearly the first time.

cd25d@clnk.com

[D. Stump, Hanalei]

With the wind and the current behind you, is it just possible that each cancelled out the other and you had essentially no water flow over the rudder? That flow over the rudder is what turns the vessel! I would think it highly unusuall that this would happen, and would be an extremely odd situation. If it happens again, release the jib first, that way the main will tend to drive you to windward. Other than that, I think ya did the right thing by jibbing.

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30