OK, What's the deal - how much wind is too much?

[John Vigor]

Warren, there are some boats, particularly light-displacement boats, that are easier to tack if you first let the jib fly free. Think about it--when you start to tack through the eye of the wind, the trimmed jib is doing its best to push the bow off. It actually tries to prevent you from tacking. If you release the jib sheet and thus remove this reverse thrust, it's far easier for the bow to point up into the wind, and beyond. The trimmed-in mainsail will also be a great aid in tacking, of course.

So why don't you try it one of these days, specially in heavy weather? Get yourself settled on a tight beat--moving nicely--then just before you want to go about, pull off 10 degrees to get up more speed for about a minute. You can judge 10 degrees fairly easily by holding up a closed fist at arm's length against the horizon. From one side of your fist to the other is about 10 degrees, or certainly near enough for the purpose of this exercise. Keep her heading lower like this for about 60 seconds, or just long enough to get up speed.

Then put your helm hard down and let the jib sheet fly simultaneously. If you can time it so you're coming off the back of a wave at the same time, so much the better.

This technique can work with heavy-displacement boats, too, but their greater kinetic energy usually makes it unnecessary as they can mostly carry steerage way through any tacking maneuver.

If your objective is to heave to, you will first have to tack using this method, and then manually haul the jib sheet to weather afterward.

Cheers,

John V.

[marilou]

...Act like one..When you come about in light air, board up, mast comes across boat...drop centerboard (or do this just before you "come about"),
after you suceed in coming about pull the centerboard all the way up. The trick to coming about in heavy air is to let the boom cross boat and QUICKLY PULL foresail in.