jibe question

[saurav16]

Hi,

I was sailing last weekend on the Hudson i was sailing south east on a port take the wind was pretty much coming from behind me. The current was also going south. I wanted to turn around to head back north. I tried turning but lacked boat speed to complete the turn. How do I keep up boat speed on a 180 deg turn when sailing with a strong wind behind you?

[Giulietta]

You turn 90º start a reach to get some boat speed over the water, then turn into a tack.

[nolatom]

Make sure you're trimming sails as you come up to close-hauled. Stay at close hauled or close reach for a few seconds to build up speed. Now you have only a 90 degree tack to do.

if you don't trim as you head up, you'll run out of gas and end up in irons..

[danjarch]

Also, be aware of the current, it will steal your momentum when youturn into it. You should try to be on the leeside of the river. The hudson is known for being a hard place to sail.

[saurav16]

I didn't trim the sails while on the turn. I need to try to do that. If I have enough speed the current shouldn't be a problem right?

[danjarch]

depends on the current, if there is a strong current, as you come around about 90 degrees your momemtum will be dropping. you will now be sitting side ways to the current, trying to continue through the turn. It's going to want to push you back. Try to make a wider turn while sheeting in, as suggested above. If this woks most of the time great. Another trick would be to push the main to windward, in the final part of the turn. This would act like a weather vain of sorts.

[lsusailing]

I took my old sailboat out the first time, had not sailed in 40 years and got stuck in a blow, a big one. I could not tack and I got closer and closer to the lee shore. Somehow I got out of the mess and I realized that I needed help.

Your experience was really great and most of us have experienced challenges. What happens if you would have lost your engine, a sail rips, you loose lines, you wrap your anchor around your keel...sometimes all this happens all at once.

Do not take this wrong but take the ASA101 and 103 courses, or at least spend some time out with an experienced sailor. This will give you the confidence to learn more and enjoy sailing and its challenges

John
s/v Daphne
Morgan 28OI