[Rhodes22-list] Sailing Backwards

[William E. Wickman]

Bill,
Good ideas.  I used to own a Hobie Cat and the only way to tack it in any
wind was to backwind the jib.  The backwards sailing is a good idea too.
It seems like doing a combination of backwinding to push the boat backwards
(probably with the mainsail) and steering backwards might be enough to even
overcome 35 kt. wind; that is, if the waves were not too bad.  Has anyone
tried this?

And to Rummy...if I had started drinking rum when it was blowing 35 my wife
would have divorced me. :)

Bill W.




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|         |           Bill Effros            |
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  |       Subject:  [Rhodes22-list] Sailing Backwards                                                                            |
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Bill,

Another great tacking technique is sailing backwards.

If you almost cross the wind, but don't quite make it, instead of
reversing everything you've done, hold your ground as the wind starts to
push you backwards.  Steer with the tiller to keep your bow pointed into
the wind until you build some backward momentum.  Remember, everything
on the tiller now works backwards, too -- a great mental challenge.
When you've got some weigh on, sharply turn the tiller so that the bow
is forced to cross the wind.  Then reset the sails, shift into forward,
and sail off.

It's really neat, and you can hear people on other boats saying "how'd
he do that?"

Practice in 10-15 kt. winds.  You need enough wind so you can be pushed
backwards.

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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