[Rhodes22-list] Partial Mainsail

Sat Jul 25 14:58:50 EDT 2009

Lee,

I was just thinking about bringing the centerboard up as you suggested, but
have concerns.
Did you flip bringing the centerboard up and down. Down when tacking and up
after the tack?
I remember when I forgot to let the centerboard down and all I could
remember was going sideways and difficulty in making headway. In essence the
boat was slipping and pushed sideways by the wind when the centerboard is
up. I suppose as long as we don't need to be anywhere soon this is all fine.
At the end I'll have to let my wife judge!

Great suggestion!
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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