tacking

[drams_1999]

I had exactly the same issue with my "M" when she was new. It took me a couple of seasons to perfect it, sometimes with ideas from this board.

Definitely the most helpful advice I found was to fall off, build up momentum, then GENTLY turn into the wind so that the boat doesn't stall. Keeping the bow heavy helps too.

Backwinding the headsail is gravy.....if I got far enough for it to backwind I generally already passed the eye of the wind, but it does help get you out of irons on the new tack quicker.

It took practice but I am successful now (practically) every time. I really think that learning on these boats will make all other similar boats seem easy to sail in comparison.

[NiceAft]

What I found by observing my GPS's SOG, was that if the boat's speed was less than 2MPH (1.73 knots), the tack was not going to happen.

Ray

[dlandersson]

Yeah, I found that out too - don't ask me how.

What I found by observing my GPS's SOG, was that if the boat's speed was less than 2MPH (1.73 knots), the tack was not going to happen.

Ray

[mastreb]

What I found by observing my GPS's SOG, was that if the boat's speed was less than 2MPH (1.73 knots), the tack was not going to happen.

Ray

This is definitely true. In very light airs I gybe (gasp!) because you're powered all the way through.

[Hamin' X]

Interesting, I find that I have no trouble at all tacking in extremely light air. Don't stall the rudders.

~Rich

[BrianW]

I had another high wind weekend. 25 to 30 mph winds. My son said before hand, it will be fun. This was the first time my wife felt ill. Another crew wasn't doing so well either. I wish I had re-read the posts to remember what to try. I hadn't thought much of the broaching possibilities, but was well in tune on watching the boom and reeling it in tight during the gybe. I had a pin keeper fall out on the lower starboard shroud. I heard the bang and saw the mast tilt portside and thought it was going over. Luckily, we had enough muscle on board to help get another pin in the lower shroud and kept sailing. I will keep working on the tacky issue.

[NiceAft]

Interesting, I find that I have no trouble at all tacking in extremely light air. Don't stall the rudders.

~Rich

I first found out about "stalling the rudders" on this forum. It used to drive me crazy trying to figure out why a tack did not complete.


If the boat is going less than 2mph, stalling the rudders, not stalling the rudders, It does not make a difference . Now in my old age, on the rare occasion when a tack won't complete, I just lower the Honda, start her up, finish the tack, raise the Honda, go on my way. It's a lot safer than gybing With those four easy steps, my mantra for tacking is now the 3 S.W. Rule: Some Will. Some Won't. So What Life is too short . Go out and sail.

Ray
~~_/)~~

[drams_1999]

Funny thing is I was out a few months ago with a bunch of "newbie" sailors aboard and had someone driving that had never driven any boat before. The winds were extremely light and he managed to tack the boat (unintentionally)......I was so surprised I told him he must be an expert.....I couldnt have tacked at that slow speed with those light winds no matter how hard I tried. Goes to show......LOL

[tlgibson97]

The only time I have had trouble tacking in heavy winds I have always had large waves to tack across also that worked against me. In the forst instance, it was the final clue that I was in over my head and turned around and headed back to the dock. The second time I dropped the motor and completed the tack.

Both times I started the tack at about 4kts but always lost momentum before I could get across the wind to backfill the jib. After a couple tries with no luck I moved on to other techniques. I'm sure if I had timed the waves different or tried different rudder angles I might have been able to pull it off. I just figure the more I fight it the higher chance I'm going to do something stupid and get myself in trouble.

[NiceAft]

I just figure the more I fight it the higher chance I'm going to do something stupid and get myself in trouble.

Wise choice.

Ray