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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/08/2006 : 11:05:00

Is anyone else having trouble heaving to? No problem backwinding the jib, but when I put the helm down she tends to head up into the wind despite depowering the main. Eventually she settles into the hove to groove: jib and helm cancelling each other out. Maybe the "problem" is a 110 jib instead of a 120 or 125 or genoa. Anyone?

Frank Farmer
Long Beach, CA
aa.diver@verizon.net
http://mysite.verizon.net/aa.diver

PRETTY PENNY
'01 C-250 WK, Hull #558

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High H2O
1st Mate

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35 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2006 : 11:41:01

I've found it best to furl the jib down about 10% before heaving to. Also be sure to stall the boat before pushing the helm over.

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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2006 : 15:19:14

Yes, stall the boat, no to reducing the jib 10%. If anything MORE jib is needed to counter the lee helm.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2006 : 18:27:04

You should be able to heave-to with just about any headsail-mainsail combination depending on the wind conditions. With a full genoa slackening the main sheet to take a little pressure off the helm will work to stablize the boat. I wouldn't spend a lot of time away from the helm though. Although heaving-to is nice for taking short breaks, it's best used in storm conditions with reduced sail. Many experienced world cruisers have questioned its use as an effective storm tactic. Some prefer using warps, others running with a bare pole, still others prefer some type of drogue.

It is a pleasant way to pass the time eating lunch under sail though.

Edited by - aeckhart on 09/09/2006 05:47:08

High H2O
1st Mate

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35 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2006 : 09:42:00

Frank,

I was describing what works on my 250WB when heaving to in strong winds to put in a reef. If I leave the jib full it overpowers the rudder.

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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2006 : 10:52:42

I only heave to under pleasant conditions for lunch or a dump or just for kicking back. NEVER in "unpleasant" conditions, i.e. high wind, choppy seas, etc. In those conditions I no sail, but if "caught", I either reef down or bare pole it 'til conditions moderate.

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2006 : 07:33:21

I tried "Heaving-to" yesterday in probably 5-7 knots of wind, could not do it with any hope of the boat still pointing to windward. I had the 110 genny unfurled all the way. Could some one go through the step by step process for heaving to in a C250WB. I also had a "newbee" om board so I didn't want to mess around too much with him onboard. Will be alone tomorrow though......."Thanx in advance" once again.

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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2006 : 15:11:06

I gradually tack into the wind, backwinding the 110, at the same time letting the main all the way out to leeward. Then I "gingerly" ease the tiller to leeward. For awhile the boat goes to weather, but when I keep "nudging" the tiller, she gradually stabilizes. The trick is to get the jib and rudder to cancel each other out. When they do, I secure the tiller and relax as the boat ever-so-slowly "inches" forward and drifts to leeward. If the jib was a 135, I think she'd hove to more effectively.

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2006 : 19:13:19

Every boat seems to have a hove to character slightly different. The Hobie 18 was so easy to park hove to near a starting line and would accelerate so fast that doing so was a favorite racing tactic. Prior to the gun, call on grew to release the backwinded jib and haul it in on tack and the Hobie would be up to full speed as she hit the line (if done right, abt one sec after the gun).

The 250 is harder to heave to and requires getting boat speed almost fully stopped.

I agree that heaving to is an important sailing skill. As Frank points out it, it offers a courtesy to crew (or skipper) using the necessary.

I don't use it while reefing because the reefing scheme goes much too fast to bother. A crew can likely reef four times over in the time it takes to set a hove to condition. Having said that, certainly the crew who uses the technique to reef does so for good reasons I'm not critical of.

As far as a storm tactic... the 250 isn't a boat where a hove to storm tactic would come into play. She does not have enough ballast to play with a storm. All sail should come down. This is true for thunder heads, or mountain lakes suffering a williwa (sp).

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2006 : 20:04:35

I didn't sail today but intend to tomorrow. I suspect that the reservoir I am on can be classified as a mountain lake, 5 to 10 degree wind shifts are not uncommon as this may have been the case yesterday when I thought Brandy wouldn't hold no matter what I did with the tiller. "Brandy" comes out on the 26th for the season here in upstate New York. When I took sailing lessons four years ago I remember the Tanzer I was on doing hove to techniques. I would like to practice this tomorrow. After tomorrow the temperature and strong winds may prohibit sailing for a few days and maybe for the season. Thanx All.

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High H2O
1st Mate

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35 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2006 : 09:21:05

I should have gone into more detail in my original response. I heave to when reefing because I'm sailing single handed and do not have lines led aft (yet). Managing the halyard, reef line and securing reef ties does not happen all that fast when alone.

Here is how the heave to process works for me in winds over 15 kts:
1. Reduce jib to about 100%
2. Turn directly into the wind, release the main sheet, and stall the boat to about one knot.
3. Pull the tiller to windward and back fill the jib.
4. Quickly, before the boat accelerates, push the tiller to leeward and secure it.
5. My C250WB takes a few seconds to stabilize but once settled in drifts nicely.

I rarely heave to in lower winds. It's easier to use the autopilot.

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