[Rhodes22-list] Partial Mainsail

Sat Jul 25 14:41:42 EDT 2009

I went out today to try a few of the suggestions made. I think today was one
of my best sailing days. 
Wind was about 9-12 mph. I reefed the mainsail to about 3/4 vs 1/2. This
time I let out the jib approx 1/3 about 1-2 ft from the stays. The boat
generally stayed flat. The boat did heel slightly when the wind gusted 12+.
I also had the jib sheets between the stays and I was able to get an
improved closed haul heading better than when the jib sheets were outside of
the stays.

It was a beautiful time and maybe my best day and it felt like I took it to
hull speed.

While I've never lowered down the boom, I will someday try just to
experience the effect. My family is very happy w/ the pop-top up and could
how constraining it would be w/ the pop-top down and the danger of being
smacked by the boom.

I made a connection w/ sternway when I was backing out my slip and then it
popped that when going backwards on a tack on a possible stall that
reversing the tiller to windward may do the job. This too will be another
trick I can try and see if I can judge in the moment of feeling that I'm
going backwards.

Thanks all,
Michael

Leland wrote:
> 
> Michael,
> 
> You're getting lots of good advice.
> 
> You'll have a little less heel with the board up.  From the Rhodes Owners'
> Site under FAQs under Rhodes vs. Com-Pac vs. Precisions:  5. Retract the
> centerboard part way in a big breeze. The board is intentionally modest in
> weight, and does not contribute significantly to stability up or down.
> Raising the board part way will reduce both heel and weather helm.  
> 
> The quote refers to Precisions.  If I raise the board all the way on my
> Rhodes it usually only reduces heel by about 3 degrees but your wife may
> appreciate it.
> 
> In an 8-10 knot wind, lowering the boom will reduce heel also.  
> 
> As Dave mentioned the boat sails better with two sails.  For the amount of
> wind you described you probably weren't going fast enough to tack.  Come
> off the wind enough to get up some speed and you'll then be able to turn
> her sharply into the wind.
> 
> When I first got my Rhodes I typically had too much sail out.  You were
> wise to be conservative in your sail plan, but without any headsail and so
> little main you probably couldn't get enough speed to tack even if you had
> come off the wind.  Last week I was in a 12 knot wind.  On a close reach
> with balanced sails with the board up and my 190 lbs of rail meat, I had
> less than 20 degrees of heel with the boom up and the main reefed to 80%. 
> With the boom down I had the same heel with 100% main.  I have my mainsail
> furling line marked for reefs at 60% and 80%.  If I have to reef the tiny
> little main beyond 60%, it's too windy for me (over 20 knots) and I go
> home.
> 
> Good luck!
> 
> Lee
> 1986 Rhodes22  At Ease
> Kent Island, MD
> 
> 
> 
> david.walker5 wrote:
>> 
>> Stephen,
>> 
>> Tacking with the jib, especially very light or heavy wind can be
>> challenging 
>> too.  The problem is the jib is very powerfull and it wants to push the
>> boat 
>> away from the tack.  One technique that has worked for me is something I 
>> borrowed from sailing a square rigger.  When you push the tiller to lee, 
>> loosen the jibe immediately, but do not let the sheet fly.(for those 
>> interested its called scandalizing the jib)  This reduces the drive of
>> the 
>> sail and allows it to turn up wind.  Just as the bow comes into the wind, 
>> tighten the sheet a little. The wind will then backwind the jib and push
>> the 
>> bow the rest of the way onto the new tack. As you come through the wind,
>> the 
>> wind on the new tack will push the sail across to the new tack.  In
>> really 
>> heavy wind you may end up "in stays" or headed into the wind and start to
>> be 
>> pushed backwards.  In that case as I said in an earlier post, shift the 
>> rudder (tiller to windward) and the boat will back onto the new tack and 
>> start to sail.
>> 
>> 
>> David Walker
>> 
>> www.davidwalkerphotography.com
>> 
>> Event Specialists
>> 
>> 781-639-2707 Office
>> 781-718-8690 Cell
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Stephen Staum" <staum at earthlink.net>
>> To: "The Rhodes 22 Email List" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 3:32 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Partial Mainsail
>> 
>> 
>>> Michael,
>>> I too have a wife who likes to sail flat. I have an '87 w a 184 per
>>> cent genoa. I usually start w 1/2 of the genny as the jib really
>>> powers this boat. Even w the full main out (alone) u will struggle to
>>> come about. Also, if u have the full jib out in light winds, it can be
>>> very difficult 2 get the jib 2 come across when coming about. It is
>>> often easier 2 jibe or roll up 1/2 the jib b4 come about is started.
>>> Enjoy!
>>> Stephen Staum
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> On Jul 24, 2009, at 12:47 PM, MichaelT <mticse at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Went out with the family on Sunday and wanted to play it safe.
>>>> Drew the IMF mainsail approx halfway on the boom (the letter R on
>>>> the sail
>>>> wasn't showing).
>>>> Wanted to keep things simple and used no jib. Centerboard was down
>>>> all the
>>>> way.
>>>> The boat stayed flat as a pancake which was the desired effect.
>>>> My wife wants no heeling whatsoever. Problem I had was I couldn't
>>>> tack.
>>>> It even had a hard time getting into irons and just couldn't cutover.
>>>> The only way I could change direction was to spin 2/3's around in a
>>>> jibe.
>>>> I didn't want to experiment and let out more sail so we just enjoyed
>>>> sailing
>>>> the next hour like this.
>>>> Is this normal behaviour? What am I doing wrong?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Michael
>>>> -- 
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>>>>
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>> 
>> 
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>> 
> 
> 

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