[Rhodes22-list] Small problem when coming about.

[Peter Thorn]

Jim,

tack slower -- it's faster.

verify a closehauled course before even thinking about tacking.

mover tiller a little at first, then more rapidly, then back about the same,
then slowly adjust to centerline on the new tack -- if you're moving (and
you should be moving in heavy air) about 30 degrees off centerline is all
you need.  Any more and your "rudder brake" just slows you excessively.

before the tack, face forward and sit on leeward side to induce heel -- 
heeling helps any boat round up and puts you closer to the jib cleat (if
you're singlehanded)

Set up your mainsail to self-tack (most do this anyway, but the traveller
may need adjustment).  Trim the main before the tack.  Don't touch the
mainsheet when tacking, and notice the instant the main fills so you know to
stop turning the boat.  You will settle on the new closehauled course better
this way.

Do you think perhaps you are falling off too much after the tack?  That
would carry the genoa clew forward in relation to the bow and bring the
sheets near the bow cleat horns.

Keep your "lazy sheet" pulled in, without too much slack, before the tack.

don't release the genoa sheet until you first see the bow head up across the
horizon in front of the boat.  Then, watch for the genoa to flap and hit the
mast.  The instant the genoa touches the mast, sheet in like mad and don't
stop until the jib is in.

Trim the genoa sheet with a fully stretched and extended arm, pulling all
the way in to your center with each pull. It will take fewer, but bigger,
pulls to haul the sheet in this way.

tacking slower gives you more time to pull new sheet in faster

I hope these suggestions work for you.

PT

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <LafingBear at aol.com>
To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2003 10:54 PM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Small problem when coming about.


> Hi Folks!  I don't know if you folks have ever had this problem but with
the
> brains on this list someone may have a simple solution. I usually sail
alone
> and when it's really windy and I have to come about fast I just let the
line on
> the one winch loose push the tiller over all the way and start pulling in
on
> the other side as fast as I can. On several occassions, usually while
trying
> to beat  other sailboats across the lake, the line from the genny has
gotton
> hung up on the forward deck cleat as the genny comes across. This means I
have
> to leave the tiller, grab the pole, sprawl across the hatchway and flip
the
> line free of the cleat. This only happens when I have the genny all the
way out,
> it's very windy and I'm in a big hurry. Is there something I can put over
the
> cleat, or on the cleat, to prevent the line from snagging? Yeah, I know I
> don't know all the correct terms for everything, but you guys know what I
mean.
> Any and all serious suggestions would be gratefully received.
> I'll be at the NJ show on Thur. and I hope to run into some of you folks.
> Jim Gifford
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