[Rhodes22-list] Partial Mainsail

Mary Lou Troy mtroy at atlanticbb.net
Mon Jul 27 11:47:57 EDT 2009 

Michael,
Nothing could be simpler than "lowering the boom" assuming you have 
the IMF. I would practice first time at the dock but it is very 
simple. You can do it with the mainsail out. Stow the bimini if you 
have that up then simply lower the pop-top, loosen the topping lift, 
pull the pin at the boom fitting (it's spring loaded so you just 
release it and let it find the next hole down), take up the excess 
mainsheet and readjust the topping lift if necessary. Then remember 
to watch your head. This was one of the features that sold us on the R22.

Best,
Mary Lou
1991 R22 Fretless
Rock Hall, MD
(but now on our way with the travel trailer to VT -exiting the 
Northway at Ft. Ann as I type)


At 10:10 AM 7/27/2009, you wrote:

>Lee,
>
>Since I've never brought the boom down to the lowest point. What are the
>procedures when already underway which is likely when you would want to make
>the adjustment? Did you furl the main, drop the boom and unfurl? I can see
>the chaos in 15+ winds. All the while pointed to the wind and the topping
>lift sheeted. I've also learnt to get assistance from the outboard when
>reefing in to stay pointed to the wind. Also does the IMF adjust
>automatically, meaning will it follow in parallel to the dropped boom? What
>do you do to reverse the process and want to raise the boom.
>
>I suppose this would be made simpler if its decided at the marina before
>heading out. Certainly where I'll try this procedure first :)
>
>Btw, Lee where are you? I sail here in Barneget Bay (NJ) and docked at the
>Cedar Creek Marina.
>
>Best,
>Michael
>
>
>Leland wrote:
> >
> > Michael,
> >
> > You're a fast learner.  The boat is easier to sail in less wind and it's
> > much easier to furl the sails back in, but you'll want to get all the
> > experience you can in challenging conditions; safe but challenging.
> >
> > As you discovered, running the sheets between the stays makes a
> > significant difference.  With the poptop up and a little practice, they're
> > very easy to change from the cabin on the windward side of the boat where
> > there's no tension on the sheets.
> >
> > Yesterday on the Chesapeake the wind forecast went from 2 mph to 16 mph in
> > 3 hours.  By the time I got out the true wind was a little over 8 knots.
> > Within an hour some apparent wind readings were over 15 knots on a close
> > reach but true wind was probably about 11-12 knots the rest of the day.
> >
> > Thinking about you and your wife's anti-heel preference, I lowered the
> > boom and reefed the main to 60% with the Genoa at about 50% (halfway to
> > the mast).  Sheets were run between the shrouds and the board was up.  On
> > a close reach of about 50 degrees I was going 2.5 knots.  Chop was about
> > 1-2 feet.  I let out the main to about 75% and unfurled the Genoa to 100%.
> > Sails were then unbalanced with a little too much Genoa (or too little
> > main) and it pushed the bow of the boat away from the wind.  Speed was 3.5
> > knots.  I came off the wind to about a 60-65 degree close reach and speed
> > was 4.5 knots.  Most important the entire time the heel was less than 10
> > degrees with my weight centered on the boat (no railmeat).  I was on a
> > starboard tack so I think some of the heel was the weight of the engine.
> >
> > Like you I really enjoy sailing with the poptop up and rarely sail with it
> > down.  The wind is stronger at the top of your mast than the bottom, so
> > your performance is probably always improved with the boom down unless
> > you're in very light winds.
> >
> > Lee
> >
> >
> >
> > MichaelT wrote:
> >>
> >> 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
> >>>>>> --
> >>>>>> View this message in context:
> >>>>>> http://www.nabble.com/Partial-Mainsail-tp24647946p24647946.html
> >>>>>> Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> __________________________________________________
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> >>>>>> to http://www.rhodes22.org/list
> >>>>>> __________________________________________________
> >>>>> __________________________________________________
> >>>>> To subscribe/unsubscribe or for help with using the mailing list go to
> >>>>> http://www.rhodes22.org/list
> >>>>> __________________________________________________
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> __________________________________________________
> >>>> To subscribe/unsubscribe or for help with using the mailing list go to
> >>>> http://www.rhodes22.org/list
> >>>> __________________________________________________
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>--
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>
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