Yo! A tacking question

[Bill]

Morning Light, a gracious CD28, is a little slow on the uptack. In a wind of say, under 10 knots, the sheets get snagged on the shrouds. I do have shroud covers (just enough to cover them), but the
bowlines keep snagging. Consequently, I lose all the built-up speed to tack, grimmace about the wear and tear, and feel guilty when I force the jib around (only in hairy situations). Obviously it is not the boat's fault, so I NEED some advice. Bill



meislandbill@yahoo.com

[Mike W]

Bill:
The first thing I would do is get rid of the bowlines and two seperate sheets. Just use a single line and double it over. This will reduce the bulk on the jib and probably solve most of your "hang-up" issues.
Also, don't release your jib sheet to soon. A little backwind will make your tack happen much quicker, just be ready to pull in the new jib sheet fast. Otherwise you'll be grinding, and not concentrating on boat speed and direction. Hope this helps,

Mike
"Wakonda" cd25d
Scituate, MA



mwankum@tribune.com

[yves feder W1UX]

Bill:
The first thing I would do is get rid of the bowlines and two seperate sheets. Just use a single line and double it over. This will reduce the bulk on the jib and probably solve most of your "hang-up" issues.
Also, don't release your jib sheet to soon. A little backwind will make your tack happen much quicker, just be ready to pull in the new jib sheet fast. Otherwise you'll be grinding, and not concentrating on boat speed and direction. Hope this helps,

Mike
"Wakonda" cd25d
Scituate, MA

Agree completely with Mike! Works absolutely great on our CD27. Just one big jibsheet! The double-over knot never slips; simple as can be. The greater the strain, the more it wants to stay put.

Good luck and enjoy!
Yves
S/V "Alphee"
CD27 #4 (1977)



saltwater@tinyradio.com

[Neil Gordon]

>>A little backwind will make your tack happen much quicker, ...<<

It will force the bow around, but it will also cut boatspeed.

I agree about using a single sheet doubled over... which is what I'll do next time I replace the genoa sheets. In the meantime, taping over the bowlines will prevent some of the snagging.


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



neil@nrgordon.com

[Randy Bates]

Morning Light, a gracious CD28, is a little slow on the uptack. In a wind of say, under 10 knots, the sheets get snagged on the shrouds. I do have shroud covers (just enough to cover them), but the
bowlines keep snagging. Consequently, I lose all the built-up speed to tack, grimmace about the wear and tear, and feel guilty when I force the jib around (only in hairy situations). Obviously it is not the boat's fault, so I NEED some advice. Bill

Splice your two seperate sheets together to make one.



randy.bates@baesystems.com

[Chris Scheck]

I am just about to replace the jib sheets on RAGTIME, and one long piece of rope doesn't cost any more than two shorter pieces (with apologies to Arlo Guthrie and Alice's Restaurant) so I'll certainly take your suggestion. But what is a double-over knot? I've always used a bowline in my jib sheets.

Chris Scheck
RAGTIME CD33
Newport



cscheck@aol.com

[Anthony P. Jeske]

Chris:
It's also known as a Lark's Head Knot or a Girth Hitch. Try looking it up under those names. If you can't find it anywhere, e-mail me and I can fax you a sketch.
Regards,
Tony Jeske
CD25D #141
Breezy
San Diego




ajeske@ixpres.com

[Neil Gordon]

A lark's head is what's used on luggage tags... find the middle of the line, pass the loop though the clew, pull the two ends through the loop and you're done.


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

[Chris Scheck]

Thanks for clearing up the mystery of the "lark's head" knot. Everyone knows what kind of a knot is used on luggage tags. Sounds better than what I did ... trying to pass the end of my new line thru the clew of the yankee on our CD33 while under sail and then tie a bowline in it. The clew is about 3 feet above my head.



cscheck@aol.com