Steering with the sheets?

[Steve K]

Ahoy all,
Do any of you practice, or have you tried this.

Get your boat on a tack and get her in the groove, where you can let her stretch out for awhile. The idea is to get her on a straight course (you should have a steady wind).

Lock the wheel/tiller and see if she holds course well.
If she starts heading up, try sheeting in the head sail, or sheeting out the main, until she holds a straight course.
If she starts heading down, try sheeting in the main, or easing the head sail, to get her back on course.
(I think I have this right...... could be opposite, but you get the idea)
Keep your adjustments subtle and give the boat time to react. Check rudder position, while doing this. The idea is to get the rudder as close to centered as possible, then using the sheets, see if you can get the boat to hold a straight course.

Anyway, this is a great way to learn more about your boat and how she handles. And by doing this I've trained myself to stay off the tiller, 'cause I've always been one of those who tend to over steer (which slows ya down). I love rocking along this way and usually end up with tiller and head sheet locked and make minor course corrections with only the mainsheet.

Interesting too, that just changing position in the cockpit can affect your track, in the D boat.

Anyway, I'm sure a lot of you already know all of this....... I just thought I'd throw it out there, to see if anyone has any other such advice, or self teaching/learning tricks. I've been sailing for many years, but I'm always eager to learn something new. I'm far from an expert

Best Breezes,
Steve K.
Mac 26D "Three Sheets"

[mastreb]

Interesting too, that just changing position in the cockpit can affect your track, in the D boat.

It is quite interesting to watch the effects of sheeting on course, but unfortunately on the every movement of any person on the boat affects course, and with the admiral and three kids bumping around, there's no such thing as staying off the wheel.

[reastmure]

I have secured the steering wheel while motoring and move to one side or the other to keep the boat on course. Works great. Also, from my wind surfing experience, I know that sheeting in or out will effect steering and course. Never tried that in the Mac though. I will give it a go!

[Steve K]

I once sailed, the better part of a day through two basins and a narrow canyon on lake Mead.
The wind was just right and going right down the canyon. I was wing on wing, centerboard all the way up, one rudder up.
(this was with my X boat). I had the wheel tied off. I had the Genny poled out.
For the longest time I just stood on the first step of the companionway, leaning on the opened sliding hatch, drinking a beer...... or two. (prior to drinking & boating laws btw)
When I needed to correct my course, I would just lean to port or starboard to do so.
The canyon was not a straight run, by any means, but rambles around from almost due east to due north. I was making about 5.5 knot all day. The wind just pushed the boat down through the canyon. Never touched the wheel or the sheets. It was the most amazing sail, I think I've ever had....... like a magic carpet ride
You never forget days like that and this is what keeps us doing it.

What's the saying..... A bad day of sailing is better than a great day at work?

Well a great day of sailing.......... well,............ I bet there's sailing in heaven

BB,
SK

[cptron]

I have heard of this before and although I too have been sailing for a few years, claim to be no expert. I thought all of this was just hype until I was on the Cape Fear River in Southport, NC on a beam reach, bungeed the steering to the column and used the sheets to make minor turns to keep on track. It was way coooolll.

[raycarlson]

"Sailing all day on lake mead without ever touching the wheel" come on guy, you must have had a couple o twelve packs clouding your memories.for anyone who sails lake mead this is a pretty far fetched statement.

[Ixneigh]

I've had my M doing similar but with a modified wing on wing setup where the tack of a smaller job it tied to the mast base and the jib held out with a Pole. Works well. She sailed for half and hour by herself nearly perfect that way. I did not have a beer since I don't drink.

[raycarlson]

i understand getting trimmed up so the boat sails a course by itsself and have done this on the sea of corttez for an hour or more with out ever having to touch the wheel or a line.but to do it most of a whole day on lake mead is ridiculous dream from an achohol hazed memory.having sailed mead myself i have rarely seen the wind come from the same direction for more then 20-30min much less most of a day as in 8=10 hrs.

[Steve K]

i understand getting trimmed up so the boat sails a course by itsself and have done this on the sea of corttez for an hour or more with out ever having to touch the wheel or a line.but to do it most of a whole day on lake mead is ridiculous dream from an achohol hazed memory.having sailed mead myself i have rarely seen the wind come from the same direction for more then 20-30min much less most of a day as in 8=10 hrs.

"Sailing all day on lake mead without ever touching the wheel" come on guy, you must have had a couple o twelve packs clouding your memories.for anyone who sails lake mead this is a pretty far fetched statement.

Ray,
I'm sure you a nice fellow, but you don't know me, so don't make assumptions about someone you know nothing about
You might suck down suds a 12 pack at a time, but I don't

Been sailing Mead for twelve years and under usual conditions, you are absolutely correct. But that one day......... all was right with the world, I guess. The wind usually comes down through the Virgin Canyon towards Temple Bar, instead of away from it, or changes directions completely, halfway down the canyon. In fact, I've sailed upwind from Temple Bar to Sandy point one day and Sailed upwind back from Sandy point to Temple Bar the next. It's always changing out there.

But this one time..................
I sailed from Boat Wreck Point, (if you know where that is Mr. Mead expert ...... you called me ridiculous.....and drunk I owe you at least one ) through the remainder of the Temple Basin, all the way through the Virgin Canyon, then all the way down the Greg Basin to just past Sandy Point. Never touched nothing I've done this same trip (starting from middle Point) about 20 times and have never had these same conditions.

Now...... you can believe me or not, I don't care.
It happened exactly as I told the story. Seems pretty important to you though, that you had to actually call me a drunken liar in two posts.

SK

[Catigale]

Not quite the same as sailing, but one night I did Baltimore to Elk Neck under power, at 10 knots, I found I could steer the boat just by shifting by lateral position in the cockpit....

[raycarlson]

OK, we"ll say for one day all was right in the world, I just thought the booze was an easier out, my mistake

[Steve K]

OK, we"ll say for one day all was right in the world, I just thought the booze was an easier out, my mistake

Ray,
Apology excepted You're a stand up guy.

No hard feelings

Best Breezes,
Steve K.

[Catigale]

Apologists buy the pizza....acceptees buy the beer...

we'll be waiting...

[raycarlson]

Deal!!

[Steve K]

Me too
SK