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Catch a wave!

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soulfinger
1st Mate

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USA
29 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/26/2007 : 20:53:42

Howdy folks---first post for me. I'm the relatively (last fall) new owner of Cat 250wk #481.

We were out this weekend on Galveston Bay in the most brisk conditions we've yet attempted. I'd estimate the wind to be in the high teens pushing 20 at times (though I'm no expert at estimating windspeed). All we had up was a reefed main, but the boat was flying along--it had to be near hull speed (though my speedometer wasn't working to know for sure). There was a fairly nasty short chop of 2-3' with occasional 4'+ waves. The boat sailed fine upwind and on a beam reach despite the chop. However, whenever I tried to aim further downwind than a beam reach, I found that the boat got caught up on a wave, then veered off to windward despite my best helmsmanship. Sure, I could have fought with it more, but it wasn't easy to control and not a lot of fun.

Is this just the consequence of sailing a light boat in a following sea? Or is there a trick to controlling it better?

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2007 : 21:31:52

Welcome Andy.
With the reefed main and no jib, the balance was cronic and I bet you were swinging with each wave passing. BinDerDoneDat. but not in those conditions.

Better to reef both and balance the boat more, but the crew will chime in on this one.

Again, welcome: give us some info, boat name, year, type, etc.

Paul

Edited by - on

Russ.Johnson
Commodore

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USA
843 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2007 : 23:23:01

Andy,

I agree with Paul.
When is too windy, I see a lot of people with Main only, upwind and Jib only, downwind.
I prefer to reef the main and partially furl the jib.
If you have the smaller 110% jib like I do, you will reef the main long before you furl the jib.

Welcome aboard, keep the questions coming.
Russ (#793)

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2007 : 07:51:47

Welcome aboard Andy. What you describe is very typical to sailing and is caused when the sea rolls under from an aft quarter having two significant effects. The sea momentarily stalls the rudder so that it has no control to hold the imbalanced sail plan and it impacts the rudder at an angle producing a yaw force. Combined these forces yaw the boat and sometimes can swing her beam onto the wind and broaching.

As others have stated, trading the jib for the main will help greatly and will eliminate most of the force resulting from the rudder stall but that still leaves the side impact of the rudder. You will need to learn what all sailors learn, how to helm a following sea.

Understanding the dynamic goes a long way to learning this skill. What is needed is to shift the helm and vane the rudder to the sea at the moment it rolls under. Doing so eliminates the side force impact of the sea on the rudder (more critical on boats like the 250 with very large rudders for the boat size). The rudder shift should only be for the period of the stall of the rudder otherwise the shift will cause a course change itself and what is wanted and can be obtained is to hold a perfectly straight course.

After a little practice it will come. Some call it an anticipatory move because it is not a reaction to hold a course. If your boat has a tiller, you might begin to feel the stall of the rudder and allow it to be the trigger to make the momentary helm shift. If you have the wheel, it may need to become a timing thing. When perfected, your course will remain straight as the side force on the rudder is eliminated.

Edited by - Arlyn Stewart on 06/27/2007 08:08:02

soulfinger
1st Mate

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USA
29 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2007 : 20:56:50

I hadn't considered the effect of the sea upon the rudder--that's very interesting. It seems counter-intuitive (at least for a novice like myself) to have turn the helm in to the the direction you're trying not to turn, but I understand it conceptually. I have a feeling that this is one of those things that's a lot easier in theory than it is to pull off, but that'll come with practice.

We unfurled the 130 genoa for a bit (to about 100%-size), but I found that a lot harder to control--just too much canvas up. Would I have been better off with a 60% or so jib to balance the main? Or would I have been better off just sailing with the genoa alone? Honestly, I would prefer that if it's safe to do---I've only sailed once with just the jib--it was in a stiff breeze, but on confined waters with no waves. The boat sailed great with just the jib, but I've read that some boats shouldn't be sailed on jib alone, particularly in bigger waves; that it can lead to mast flexing/failure, and I've never really found a definitive answer on whether the C250 can be safely sailed with just the jib up.

Edited by - soulfinger on 06/27/2007 20:58:52

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2007 : 22:31:03

Some local lake sailors will never experience the helming conditions that you experienced on smaller inland lakes... simply not enough wave action. I didn't mean to suggest that it is that difficult of a skill to acquire. When it happens again, you will quickly grasp the vaning and the solid course that results.

Running under jib only I think requires some discipline... that is keeping the boat slightly below hull speed. The reason is that once hull speed is reached, the forestay can experience very high loads that can't find release with increased boat speed as the boat can't go faster.

If the run is a long one, there is another way that might be effective... staying with the main perhaps double reefed and towing warps (long lines) tied to each stern quarter which has the effect of resisting the yawing force produced by the main when the rudder stalls.

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ddlyle
Captain

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302 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2007 : 22:52:30

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> Running under jib only I think requires some discipline... that is keeping the boat slightly below hull speed. The reason is that once hull speed is reached, the forestay can experience very high loads that can't find release with increased boat speed as the boat can't go faster. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Arlyn,
Thank you for good explanation of running under jib alone with discipline.
Also, very interesting abut the use of towing warps to help control the boat downwind with following seas. I have found following seas very challenging too. Not insurmountable, but they'll keep you on your toes.

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.