[Rhodes22-list] Sailing with waves

Fri Oct 10 08:21:17 EDT 2008

Mike/Lee - I do this when solo but have friends sailing near by. Usual
disclaimers apply and I do wear a PFD. Hang on tight!   :-)

Wally

On Thu, Oct 9, 2008 at 5:29 PM, Michael D. Weisner <mweisner at ebsmed.com>wrote:

> Leland,
>
> Please note that this is a DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME STUNT!  If you are going
> to attempt this, PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT IT WHILE SINGLEHANDING - have
> another
> sailor on board who needs to practice MOB drills.
>
> Mike
> s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
> Nissequogue River, NY
>
> From: "KUHN, LELAND" <LKUHN at cnmc.org>Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 5:03
> PM
>  > Wally,
> >
> > I like that stupid trick!  I'm thinking that the drag from a body will
> > easily turn the boat.  I may need to wait until the water warms up again
> > to give it a try.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Lee
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: TN Rhodey [mailto:tnrhodey at gmail.com]
> > Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 9:28 AM
> > To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
> > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Sailing with waves
> >
> > When I want to move around and go forward .....   Keep in mind what you
> > want
> > to do while away from tiller and what side of the boat your weight will
> > on.
> > Trim accordingly. I secure tiller and trim sails with a little extra
> > weather
> > or lee helm. If you keep your weight on opposite side you can balance
> > out.
> >
> > I learned lots of stupid sailing tricks as a kid. One can set sails and
> > tiller, secure a line to aft cleat, and while holding (tightly) bitter
> > end
> > of line jump into the water!  Pulling on the line left or right will
> > make
> > slight adjustments to course. You can actually sail your R22 with no-one
> > aboard while being dragged behind. I thought this was much safer than
> > past
> > activities like slalom water skiing while drinking a beer. :-)
> >
> > Note - make sure your swim ladder is down or can be lowered easily from
> > water. This is very stupid and unsafe. I don't suggest anyone try this.
> >
> > Fair Winds,
> >
> > Wally
> > On Thu, Oct 9, 2008 at 8:56 AM, KUHN, LELAND <LKUHN at cnmc.org> wrote:
> >
> >> Mike,
> >>
> >> You got that right.  Sailing the Rhodes is like surfing on a giant
> >> longboard.  I haven't noticed much of a difference moving forward but
> > it
> >> makes sense that it affects the balance a little.
> >>
> >> The more opposing pressure you have above and below the water, the
> > less
> >> effect your weight will have on the balance, but you'll probably still
> >> be able to turn the boat by shifting your weight.  Moving 200 lbs.
> > from
> >> one side to the other is a 400 lb. shift on a boat with only a 700 lb.
> >> keel.
> >>
> >> Lee
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Michael D. Weisner [mailto:mweisner at ebsmed.com]
> >> Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2008 5:38 PM
> >> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
> >> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Sailing with waves
> >>
> >> Bill,
> >>
> >> When you single-hand (sailing that is), don't you find that the
> >> "balance" is
> >> upset when you move about?  It seems that no matter how carefully I
> > set
> >> the
> >> sails, hove to or otherwise, as soon as I move, the whole balance
> >> changes.
> >> Walking forward into the cabin, even on the centerline of the boat,
> >> changes
> >> the heading, although not nearly as much as happens when rummaging
> >> around in
> >> the v-berth or going forward to check a line or something.  I weigh
> >> about
> >> 200 lbs and cannot move about without altering the "balance."  What is
> >> your
> >> secret?
> >>
> >> Mike
> >> s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
> >> Nissequogue River, NY
> >>
> >> From: "Bill Effros" <bill at effros.com>Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2008
> >> 5:30
> >> PM
> >> > Mary Lou,
> >> >
> >> > I do have the 175, and I heave to whenever there is any wind at all
> >> and
> >> > I need to do something.
> >> >
> >> > Usually that "something" is going to the head when I'm single
> > handing,
> >> > although I will heave to with people aboard if things are chaotic
> > and
> >> I
> >> > want to calm something down.  Sometimes I heave to because it is
> > just
> >> > the most peaceful way to sail, and with all kinds of deep water
> >> > available, I will heave to for hours, waving off friendlies who stop
> >> by
> >> > to see if I'm in trouble.
> >> >
> >> > The easiest way to do it (so this is naturally the way I do it most
> >> > often) is to come about and not release the jib.
> >> >
> >> > If you leave the rudder pointed in this direction, you will do a 360
> >> and
> >> > continue on the same tack you started.
> >> >
> >> > So, after the boom crosses over, you turn the rudder the other way.
> >> >
> >> > Then you play with the rudder, pointing more or less into the wind,
> >> > until the boat gets to where you like the way it feels.  A calm will
> >> > settle over the boat, the wind will feel like it has lessened, the
> >> boat
> >> > will ride on the waves or tide or current without fighting it.
> >> >
> >> > The wind's power will push the boat sideways, faster or slower
> >> depending
> >> > on how high you decide to point into the wind.
> >> >
> >> > Then you lash the tiller in place, and you can forget about it until
> >> you
> >> > see obstacles approaching on your leeward side.  (I use dock line
> > and
> >> > both aft cleats to lash my tiller -- easy to do -- everything right
> > at
> >> > hand -- the tiller won't move an inch once lashed in place.  The
> > boat
> >> > will slowly travel in the direction set until you are ready to
> > release
> >> > the jib, or come about and take off.
> >> >
> >> > I can do it with any amount of sail -- it's just a matter of
> >> > establishing a balance.  Most of the time I don't change the main
> >> sail,
> >> > and just set the sheets so as much wind spills off as I choose.
> > Since
> >> I
> >> > am usually going to the head, and I have a hatch, and I'm a stand-up
> >> > kind of guy, I reduce the jib so that it doesn't smack me in the
> > face
> >> at
> >> > a time when my hands are otherwise occupied.
> >> >
> >> > Under small craft advisory conditions I already have handkerchief
> >> sized
> >> > sails, and with that much wind, that's all you need.  I try not to
> >> reset
> >> > anything once I'm underway in these conditions.
> >> >
> >> > The great thing about heaving to is that everything gets so calm.
> > You
> >> > have all the time in the world to experiment, and you won't get
> > hurt.
> >> > Roll in the Jib, roll out the main, turn the rudder this way then
> >> that,
> >> > watch the water...at some point you realize you're doing it!  There
> > is
> >> > nothing to it, and there is the thrill of learning to sail in a very
> >> > different way.
> >> >
> >> > It's useful.  It's safe.  It's easy.  It works in every wind
> >> condition.
> >> >
> >> > Bill
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Mary Lou Troy wrote:
> >> >> Bill,
> >> >> What size jib when you heave to in those conditions. You have a 175
> >> >> right?
> >> >>
> >> >> We've never been successful getting the boat to heave to but we
> >> >> haven't practised much and we may not have tried it in enough wind.
> >> >> Do you find you can heave to in winds less than 10 knots?
> >> >>
> >> >> Thanks,
> >> >> Mary Lou
> >> >>
> >> >> At 12:33 AM 10/8/2008, you wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >>> Andrew,
> >> >>>
> >> >>> I've sailed in the same place under the same conditions.
> >> >>>
> >> >>> I find I can control the boat up into 20-25 mph wind conditions.
> >> >>>
> >> >>> I sail with far less than 50% of both sails, and can maintain
> >> sustained
> >> >>> over ground speeds between 7 and 11 kts--exceeding theoretical
> > hull
> >> >>> speed by planing on the waves.  I try not to heel at all, and roll
> >> up my
> >> >>> 175 to storm sail size--tiny just for balance.
> >> >>>
> >> >>> The main drives the boat, and I set it at any size that will not
> >> cause
> >> >>> heeling.
> >> >>> It is almost impossible to come about under these conditions
> >> factoring
> >> >>> in the waves.  I always jibe...carefully, with a very small main,
> >> and
> >> >>> just a small "pop" when I change tacks.  I generally sail with the
> >> boom
> >> >>> up so I don't have to worry about getting killed by a small
> > mistake.
> >> My
> >> >>> main is so small, the higher boom does not create heeling.
> >> >>>
> >> >>> Heaving to under these conditions is a kick, and definitely what I
> >> would
> >> >>> do if I found myself in a storm not on purpose. If you didn't try
> > it
> >> >>> when you were out there, you should next time.  You bob like a
> > cork
> >> in
> >> >>> complete calm.  I had lunch, then released the jib in such a way
> >> that I
> >> >>> headed on the opposite tack and came home.
> >> >>>
> >> >>> Bill Effros
> >> >>>
> >> >>>
> >> >>>
> >> >>> Andrew Collins wrote:
> >> >>>
> >> >>>> Question for blue water and Great Lakes (maybe) sailors:
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>> The day before Hanna, the one before Ike, was due to roll in, I
> >> took a
> >> >>>> sail
> >> >>>> to try the boat out in unusual conditions. The wind was steady
> > out
> >> of
> >> >>>> the
> >> >>>> east at about 15-20 mph with rolling 5-6' swells 20' apart once
> >> >>>>
> >> >>> out of port.
> >> >>>
> >> >>>> On LI Sound waves are uncommon, as it is usually only choppy. So
> >> going
> >> >>>> out
> >> >>>> the tack was port on a reach and crossing the swells at less than
> >> 90
> >> >>>> deg.
> >> >>>> This was sailing into, up and over the swells, which was
> >> controllable,
> >> >>>> the
> >> >>>> sails reefed to 50% area. Boom down, life jacket on, pulse up.
> > The
> >> boat
> >> >>>> behaved well. Upon approaching Payee Reach which gets more air
> >> >>>>
> >> >>> and having to
> >> >>>
> >> >>>> cross a more shallow area the swells got larger as the bottom
> >> pushed
> >> >>>> them
> >> >>>> up. So this got a little too exciting sooo, it was time to tack
> > and
> >>
> >> >>>> turn
> >> >>>> back. The wind was too stiff and the the swells enough so she
> >> wouldn't
> >> >>>> come
> >> >>>> around, and I fell off to the former port tack.
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>> Keeping a weather eye on the swells a quick jibe got me on a
> >> starboard
> >> >>>> tack
> >> >>>> headed back towards port. So now we are sailing across and with
> >> 'down'
> >> >>>> the
> >> >>>> swells, where before we were sailing 'up'. The boat is heeling to
> >> port
> >> >>>> and
> >> >>>> when sailing down, the heeling is being accentuated by going
> >> downhill
> >> >>>> on an
> >> >>>> angle across the swell, a new experience. This I did not like, so
> >> >>>> whenever
> >> >>>> the boat started to head down a wave I fell off to brad reach and
> >> >>>> headed
> >> >>>> straighter down the wave (closer to the fall line) and headed up
> >> again,
> >> >>>> describing a zig-zag course. This I liked as there was a bit of
> >> surfing
> >> >>>> involved. Having had my fun I headed home, where the first mate
> >> >>>> observed
> >> >>>> that I looked a mite piqued.
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>> What have other R22 sailors done in these circumstances, besides
> >> >>>> avoiding
> >> >>>> them? In how much wind are you able to tack? My boat will tack up
> >> to
> >> >>>> about
> >> >>>> 20 mph, depending on the seas.
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>> Andrew
> >> >>>> s/v Carmen
> >> >>>> __________________________________________________
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> >> >>>>
> >> >>> go to http://www.rhodes22.org/list
> >> >>>
> >> >>>> __________________________________________________
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>>
> >> >>> __________________________________________________
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> >> >>> to http://www.rhodes22.org/list
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> >> >>
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> >> >>
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