Association Forum - Some Suggestions for Better Sailing

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Some Suggestions for Better Sailing

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Member Avatar

USA
5881 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/23/2023 : 08:52:46

When you're sailing closehauled and there's a wind gust, do you, like most people, pull harder on the tiller? If so, think about what's happening. Whenever you pull on the tiller, you are turning the rudder diagonally across the water's flow. That creates drag. Every time you turn the rudder, you are, in effect, putting on the brakes.

What should you do? In a gust, you should ease pressure on the tiller. Let the boat come up to windward slightly. Why? Because the boat will accelerate slightly, and the boat will take a bite to windward. The hardest ground for a sailboat to gain is ground to windward, so you should take a bite whenever you can.

Think about it this way. In a gust, when you feel increased pressure on the tiller, that's the boat telling you it wants to sail closer to windward. The architecture of the boat and sails are causing it to drive to windward, because that's the way it will sail most efficiently. That's what will make the boat "happy." So, listen to what the boat is telling you and let it do what it wants.

When you understand the meaning of the pressure that you feel in the tiller, you can use that tiller pressure to help you trim the sails efficiently. As the wind increases and the angle of heel increases, you will feel increased tiller pressure. If you just pull harder, you'll "put on the brakes" and you'll lose boat speed and pointing ability. The correct remedy is to ease the traveler (not the mainsheet) to leeward to reduce the tiller pressure. If the gust subsides, pull the traveler up to windward just until you feel the slightest amount of tiller pressure. Many sailors think the boom should always be trimmed to the centerline of the boat when closehauled and some think the mainsail should always be trimmed so that it's uniformly smooth. I've seen some folks even trim the boom to windward of the centerline. The better practice is to trim the boom so that you feel a slight pressure on the tiller. When you do, you'll notice that the mainsail will usually luff slightly at the leading edge. That indicates the most powerful and efficient mainsail trim. It usually produces very light tiller pressure. In very gusty conditions, you'll often find yourself frequently "playing the traveler," i.e. easing the traveler in the gusts and pulling it up in the lulls.

A sailboat rotates on it's axis, which is located at the Center of Lateral Resistance (CLR) in the keel. The jib applies power forward of the CLR, and the mainsail applies power aft of it. Your goal is not to generate the maximum amount of power that you can in both sails at all times. The goal is to balance the forces forward and aft of the CLR. That's what will make your boat sail fastest, point highest, and provide you a light tiller pressure so you won't become arm-weary from fighting the tiller.

Whenever you feel any more than light tiller pressure, don't ignore it. Don't think it's a characteristic of your boat. It can be alleviated by the way you trim the sails, and, in a worst case, by the way the rig is tuned.

Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind"
previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22
Past Commodore

Edited by - Steve Milby on 06/23/2023 08:55:24

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3319 Posts

Response Posted - 06/23/2023 : 17:36:19

Beautifully explained, as usual Steve!

Derek Crawford
Chief Measurer C25-250 2008
Previous owner of "This Side UP"
1981 C-25 TR/FK #2262 Used to have an '89 C22 #9483, "Downsized"
San Antonio, Texas

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
5881 Posts

Response Posted - 06/23/2023 : 17:47:16

Thanks Derek. Nice to hear from you!

Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind"
previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22
Past Commodore

keats
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
215 Posts

Response Posted - 06/24/2023 : 19:09:35

I love this kind of information and can't wait to try it out on my next sail.

So many times I feel I'm well balanced and see that slight luff in the mainsail leading edge. I assumed I had the headsail badly trimmed.

Thanks Steve!

Tim Keating
1985 C-25 TR/FK #4940
Midsummer
Lake Don Pedro, CA

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1757 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2023 : 13:27:53

Steve, not sure what prompted you to write this, but WOW. Great information as we enter the prime of sailing season!

Peter Bigelow
C-25 TR/FK #2092 Limerick
Rowayton, Ct
Port Captain: Rowayton/Norwalk/Darien CT

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
5881 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2023 : 15:07:26

I wrote it after Derek asked why there was so little chatter on the forum lately. I hoped it might stir up some interest.

Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind"
previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22
Past Commodore

hlprmnky
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
39 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2023 : 09:59:16

I am very much looking forward to applying this information later this week. This is my first season �seriously� getting out on the water - I have a single-digit number of projects to finish up while waiting for the 17-20kt frontal passage to sort itself out here at the southern end of Lake Michigan and then I want to get a shakedown sail in, and take my family out for our first �cruise� to the harbor next door over the 4th.

1985 C25 SR/FK/Trad. �Puffin III� - #5040
Sailing Lake Michigan out of Michigan City, IN

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
5312 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2023 : 09:23:29

Steve�s advice, as always, is right on target. It�s always a treat to read about his experience. And it�s so timely since we�ve seen some unusual weather lately with lots of gusty winds.
I like to use the weather forecast and current tables (in tidal waters) for trip planning. For example, a day-sail spanning more than a dozen or so miles, or an overnight, or a three-day trip.
I start with my charts to create a timeline of where I�ll be every two hours during the trip. I�ll use the NWS�s or Windy�s hourly winds forecast and use NOAA�s tidesandcurrents.gov website to do the same for currents. Then, I�ll recursively move onto my next position. My position on the NWS weather map has to follow the timeline and position of where the boat will be at the next 2-hour interval.
For example, if I can normally sail at 4.5kts in a close haul breeze, my next position should be 9 miles away. But if I have a 1kt opposing current then I�ll only make 7 miles. From there, I�ll make the next step, perhaps the wind will have veered by then, so I can only make 4kts, however the current is slack, my next 2-hour position will be 8 miles further.
I�ll continue to do this until I�ve charted my entire course to my destination.
Of course, real world conditions can change things while underway, but it gives you a notion of what you can expect.

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Edited by - Voyager on 07/30/2023 10:01:16

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.