Heave to question

[40Toes]

I have only practiced heaving to a couple of times. Tonight while out, I decided to practice it again. Winds were about 12 kts and I was sailing with the genoa only at about 100%. As the bow came thru the wind I counter helmed but there was no stopping and away she went until the bow was down wind. All in all a cool maneouvre considering the 180 but certainly not what I was aiming for. What the heck went wrong?

Rod

[David Welch]

When we heave to, I have to use the main and the foresail. The main is trying to drive you one way, the foresail is trying to drive you another, and the boat just wants to follow the helm.

[Catigale]

Im pretty sure Macs wont heave-to under foresail alone.

[Hamin' X]

Right, to heave to, you need both sails. They counter each other and force the boat to make little headway and a lot of leeway. Never heave to when close to a lee shore.

~Rich

[jschrade]

The Genoa is too powerful for the rudder and that is why you were pushed down-wind. The Genoa can be a bit much even with the sail and I have had to furl it some to keep it from pulling me around.

Jim

[Trouts Dream]

Heaving to only uses the backwinded foresail annd rudders to counter balance each other. I have used this technique many times to reef the mainsail in a blow.
The backwinded foresail starts to head downwind and picks up speed. With the speed increase the rudders now try to turn the bow back into the wind and usually very quickly a balance point is achieved.

The secret is to make sure the foresail is backwinded, ie don't throw off the sheets after tacking, and that is what you need the main sail for...to tack. I have never tried it by gybing but I would think the effect would be the same once in the right balance position.

[c130king]

Ditto what Trout said...

I have "heaved to" many times. I have never done it Genoa only but once you are "heaved to" the main is flopping around and not doing much. I also have reefed while "heaved to"...works like a champ.

But a Mac doesn't sit still in my experience. I normally see 2-3 mph on my GPS...but it is pretty much direct side slip...very little if any forward motion. So if you plan to be in this way for very long ensure you have sea room to leeward.

Cheers,
Jim
Sailing on König

[40Toes]

Thanks.

I think the issue is balance. I hove to a couple weeks ago while solo to reef the main and it worked fine. I am assuming the main initially settles the boat into the heave to position and once settled you are free to work the main.

Now I need to come up with a name for Genoa only maneouvre... "Tight Tack", "Crazy about".... No how about the "RTD-MUGO (Reduced Tactical Diameter Maneouvre Using Geneo Only).....

Rod