Needless to say, Jeff, the information that you provide here is quite helpful and educational. I am glad to hear that I did in fact choose the right boat. It is quite responsive and does give immediate feedback to inputs (both good and bad!).
I do not have a Vang but I have ordered the
boom vang kit and it should come shortly. I can see that it will help me more than I thought it might. I am running with the
jib sheet blocks all the way back on the tracks to keep the power down. And, I am getting reefing points put into the mainsail to shorten the sail by 35%.
The only thing that I have found out about jibing or tacking on my O''Day 17'' is that it is harder to do than on the 27'' O''Day because of the depth of the cockpit. A tiller extension would really help there as well as hiking out on the siderail. I am thinking about mounting a friction block (don''t know the right term for it, it is not a
cleat and it is not like what is on the main sheet) on the centerboard housing at the back so that it is real handy to secure the
jib sheet when sailing alone. I will do some testing first before I drill holes though.
I have not had much trouble tacking down wind though I did have one broach that I do not want to repeat! As you say, keep the sail in tight and it is easier. Up wind jibe is more dificult until I learned not to release the windword
jib sheet too soon or the
jib would darn near shake me and the boat to death and I would loose the
jib sheets out of the blocks. I tied a knot in the end of the
jib sheet and that helped but it took a lot of practice to make a few good tacks for a lot of bad ones. Practice, parctice and then more practice...
I am also just beginning to learn the personality of my boat, to be able to KNOW what it is going to do and what I NEED to do. I find this part really fasinating. She tells you when she loves you and she tells you real quick when she is being mistreated. I like that. But, no whining just straight communicating. Needless to say, I am hooked, turn me over, pat me twice and throw me on the plate cause I am done....