Reduce Heeling

[newinthewater]

I'm sure this topic has been discussed in great detail, but there's a point that hasn't really been answered. During my basic introductory course, I steered the boat into the wind as it heeled beyond my comfort level. It was half instinct and half logical - thinking it would slow down by running in towards the wind and flatten the boat. In the process, my instructor freaked out and told me I should have fallen off. Then later, when heeled again, I fell off, only to be told I should have gone into the wind.

Assuming the main sail is not let loose, should I go into the wind of fall off to reduce heeling? Or does it depend whether I'm in close haul or reach points of sail? Maybe 1st time around above, I was in a close reach, an 2nd time around on a close haul?

[puddinlegs]

See the "Helm control" thread on this page.

(When going to windward in a breeze, unless the main sheet is eased, you may not have the ability to turn the boat away from the wind... Generally, to answer your question, if the main isn't going to be let down via the traveller control, you can gently feather the boat a bit to windward to reduce the angle of heel.)

[hangupndrive]

"Feathering" in to the wind (heading up) is an effective way to reduce heel especially in puffs or minor gusts of wind. Assuming you don't change your sail trim I don't see how falling off would do anything but increase heel. review your sailing circle.

Please don't be discouraged, I have been sailing for over 20 years and consider myself "still learning". The basics will come quickly. The nuances take a lifetime.

Have fun!

[bubb2]

Should have eased the main sheet and stayed the course.

[Flybyknight]

Originally Posted by bubb2

Should have eased the main sheet and stayed the course.

Agree
You can also work the traveler.

[Tempest]

It's difficult to know what your comfort level is for heeling.

Generally speaking if you're heeling too much and the boat has alot of weather helm and you are being rounded up into the wind, it's time to reduce sail.

If you are on a close reach and head up to a close haul, you will heel more before you luff. Falling off from a close haul to a close reach in average winds will normally have a flattening effect if you leave the sails as they were.

IF you're close hauled and feel like your heeling too much, you can depower by easing the traveler down ( to leeward) or easing the mainsheet.

[sailingdog]

It depends on the point of sail you're on. For instance, if you're close-hauled and you fall off, the boat will heel more, not less, unless you ease the main sheet. If you head up when close hauled, the boat will heel less as it goes into irons.

There are no absolutes in sailing, as many things are conditional, based on the wind, waves, point of sail, wind strength, amount of searoom you have, etc.

[BarryL]

Hello,

If are are close hauled and get hit with a gust that causes you to heel too much, you can indeed head up a little more. This is called 'pinching' and is when you sail right on the edge of the no sail zone or too high.

Another quick option, especially if you are below close hauled, is the 'fishermans reef' . Release the sheets enough so that the top half of the sail is twisted off and not driving the boat. This will reduce heeling, but can be tough on the sails.

Pinching is effective if the wind is gusty of shifty. If the wind is mostly steady and the boat is still heeling too much then you need to make better adjustments like lowering the traveler, or making a draft adjustment by increasing halyard, outhaul, cunningham, etc.

Barry

[CBinRI]

It is all a question of feel, which you should acquire over time.

But some people find it useful to remember, "up in a puff, down in a lull" as a general guideline. You don't want to turn into irons (straight into the wind) but turing up a bit can serve the dual purposes of flattening out the boat a little while pointing you slightly closer to your destination. If you turn down, be prepared to ease the main, or you will only heel more than you already were.

[CBinRI]

A certain amount of uncomfortableness with heeling is natural. However, try to remember that a fear of heeling can be a real impediment to improving as a sailor. Heeling is a normal part of sailing and you have to convince yourself of that. If you are on a bigger boat, you have to remind yourself that it is almost impossible to capsize a normal monhulled boat under normal conditions (although excessive heeling may slow you down and put a strain on the rig). If you are learning on a dinghy, you certainly could capsize, but that is part of your sailing education and is not a disaster. You will only learn from it. Best of luck with it.