[Rhodes22-list] Sailing Technique Question

[Michael D. Weisner]

Mark,

After sailing my R22 for 25 years, I still consider myself a basic (or 
novice) sailor.  I have never had any formal sailing training other than a 
boating safety course and Stan's "in-service" launch (so you guys who really 
know how to sail are welcome to correct me).  Time and patience rewards you 
with the knowledge that you will know how the R22 will respond to many 
conditions.  It is a very predictable and forgiving boat.

While I have weathered much (and so has the boat), my wife and I still 
prefer the illusion that we have control over nature, particularly the wind 
and water.  We have sailed with the rail at the water but never really 
buried.  I feel safe by staying high on the opposite side, hiked out on a 
backstay or stern rail.  In an effort to maintain the feeling of control, I 
routinely have the tiller extension, the main sheet and the jib sheet either 
in hand or close by.  On our initial cruise with Stan, I observed him run 
the jib sheet from one winch to the other, across the cockpit, permitting 
him to cleat it on the high side.  While it makes navigating the cockpit a 
bit tougher, it gives me the feeling of safety that I needed.  I use it 
regularly.

Maybe this is just what you need to keep the jib sheet "within reach" to 
handle those gusts.  If you already sail using this technique and do not 
feel comfortable with the gusts, then spilling a bit of wind may be a better 
solution.  Alternatively, you could increase your libation and you probably 
wouldn't be so aware of the gusts or the boat's response.

Mike
s/v Shanghai'd Summer '81


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <mputnam1 at aol.com>


>A basic sailing technique question:
>
> When sailing in 15 knot winds with 20 knot gusts last Sunday (I was 
> sailing faily close to the wind), I found the boat heeled quite a bit on 
> the gusts.  I expected this given what I know about the R-22, but I wanted 
> to know if you all thought the best course of action was to:
>
> a) turn into the wind a little more when the gust hits and leave the jib 
> and main sheeted where they are;
>
> b) try and let out the main or jib a little when the gust hits, even 
> though there's not much time to react and the boat could be well-heeled 
> over by the time I am able to let out either sail; or
>
> c) sail with the main a little more let out than the jib to control 
> heeling before gusts ever hit.  This is what a sailing instructor recently 
> told me, but that seems a little odd to me.
>
> I know some of you love to bury the rail, but I'm not at that point yet 
> ... count me as someone who likes my boat to sail a little more towards 
> level.
>
> I learned how to sail on smaller craft like Lasers where I held the sheet 
> in my hand and when the gusts hit, I'd just let it out a little.  With the 
> jib sheet cleated on the R-22 and a little more out of reach, I'm not sure 
> what the best approach would be ...
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> - Mark P.
>
> P.S. Ed, I'll confess, I didn't check the archives on this.  I wanted to 
> get a quick email out while at work ... so please forgive me.
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