[Rhodes22-list] Tack With Your Jib

[Stephen Staum]

I agree with your method Bill.  SS
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Effros" <bill at effros.com>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2005 2:43 PM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Tack With Your Jib


> Bill,
>
> I saw Peter's replies and can't wait to try the things he suggests.  He is 
> a far more experienced sailor than I.  But I have sailed an R-22 more than 
> he.
>
> Let me preface my remarks by noting that my wife is a self-described and 
> proud-to-be "scaredy-pants".  She despises any time the boat "tips", and 
> loves to sail on our R-22.  I always single hand, even when I have 1/2 
> dozen people on board.  It's easier to do it than to explain to others.
>
> You needed more jib.
>
> I tack with my jib, and I never miss a tack.  (OK, I miss one or two a 
> season when I'm not paying attention--but it's always my fault, and I 
> always know that I did wrong.)
>
> Most people simply release the jib too soon.
> Most of the heeling should be a function of the main sail.  You can let it 
> out, or shorten it to reduce heeling.  In gusty conditions, set it out 
> just far enough so that the boat doesn't heel when there is no gust. 
> Reef if need be.  Then set the jib so the boat doesn't heel when there is 
> no gust.  The 175, which I love, will allow you to put out a lot of jib 
> sail low.  It catches a lot of air without inducing heel.  (By the way, I 
> almost never lower the boom because I am more afraid of a low swinging 
> boom than a broach.  I sail with my pop-top up almost all the time.)
>
> To tack, turn into the wind without releasing the jib.  Even before the 
> bow has crossed the wind, the jib may get pushed to the other side of the 
> boat and fill with air, pulling the bow and the rest of the boat through 
> the tack.  Later the boom will cross.  Straighten your tiller, then 
> release the jib sheet, and set it on the other side.  At first this will 
> be a bit sloppy until you get your timing right, resulting in a tack that 
> succeeds, but noticeably slows down boat speed.
> When the wind reaches a certain velocity it becomes impossible to tack an 
> R-22 (around 35kts).  Then the wind  is pushing against so much freeboard 
> you can't make the bow cross the wind, no matter what you do short of 
> turning on the motor, and you must jibe.  Best to practice jibing when the 
> wind is substantially below 35kts.  With an IMF sail it is possible to 
> jibe in high speed wind by pulling in the sail, and then pulling it back 
> out again after the wind has crossed your stern.
>
> I generally don't sail with my wife when the true wind speed exceeds 15 
> kts.  It just makes her uncomfortable.
>
> Bill Effros
>
>
>
>
>
>
> William E. Wickman wrote:
>
>>I was out on Ft. Loudon lake yesterday and it was wild.  Wind was blowing
>>15-20 with gusts near 30.  I was furled to storm sized jib and just a 
>>small
>>triangle for the main and still got slammed by the gusts.  I was amazed
>>that the boat  heeled even while I was motoring back to my slip with no
>>sails at all!
>>
>>I had trouble tacking in this wind so here is a question for the group.
>>What is the best strategy for tacking in high winds when you are reefed to
>>the max?  I know that you need good boat speed, but even then the boat 
>>just
>>seemed to stall out.
>>
>>Bill W.
>>--------------------------
>>
>>
>>__________________________________________________
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>>
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