Tacking up the channel

northoceanbeach · #1 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008

Hi, I am taking my catalina 22 to a new harbour tomorrow and the wind should be blowing pretty steadily maybe 15 mph and almost directly down the channel. It's maybe 50 yards wide, and 300 long, on either side there is shallow reef and breaking 6 foot waves.

I've not used the outboat yet, but I don't know if I can trust it or not. If it dies while I'm going in, is it hard to sail in? Just really wondering if this is a bad idea or not.

I figured I would leave the jib up and let it luff so if the engine dies I can swing back around and outside the reefs and try sailing in. Thanks.

captainrizzo · #2 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008

My guess is that the wind is going to be in your puss. With reefs on both sides, I would make sure that the outboard is running well. You also said that it is a net-to-you harbor. 50 yards is not a lot of room to be tacking and making headway against 6 footers. If your engine dies, I would suggest tacking through and running back out, set the anchor and figure out what is wrong with the engine.

DrB · #3 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008

If the motor does quit on you, you're basically going to be taking A LOT to get up that channel.

Assuming in a perfect world that you can keep a 45 deg heading off-wind on each tack up wind, you're looking at about 10 boat lengths for each tack. This means you need to complete the tack, gain sped, and then basically tack again. You'll probably need to tack 12 to 15 times, one every minute or so, to get through the channel.

Figure out what's going on with the motor first before doing this and get it working. Sailing up this can be done, but it's tight, requires a lot of precision tacks and skill, and also a relatively uncrowded channel. With boat traffic, this would be a real challenge even for a very skilled sailor. THis one of those times when the motor is your friend.

DrB

sailingdog · #4 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008

Captain Rizzo--

I think the six-foot breakers are on the reef and not in the channel itself. If he's dealing with the six-foot breakers, he's already screwed.

If the six-foot breakers are in the channel... I wouldn't be too keen on trying it in a 22' boat—outboard motor, inboard engine or whatever.

Having an anchor ready to drop is a very good idea in this case...

capttb · #5 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008

Kinda sounds like Ala Moana, think I have a picture of myself on a surfboard being passed by a 45' ketch on a 6 foot wave there from 1970. I'd do everything possible to insure a good running engine, come in with the mainsail up and be ready to turn and run if the engine dies and you can't tack in the rest of the way safely.

northoceanbeach · #6 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008

Yeah past Ala Moana into the ala wai. I guess I'll have someone come take a look at the engine and try tomorrow. If there wasn't a south swell I wouldn't mind so much.

northoceanbeach · #7 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008

well, I did have a mechanic look at the engine and made it without tacking. But it's still good to know for maybe someday.

SEMIJim · #8 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrB

Assuming in a perfect world that you can keep a 45 deg heading off-wind on each tack up wind, you're looking at about 10 boat lengths for each tack. This means you need to complete the tack, gain sped, and then basically tack again. You'll probably need to tack 12 to 15 times, one every minute or so, to get through the channel.

This brings back memories

.

Years and years and years ago, I was a weekend guest at a home in the Netherlands while on an extended stay in that country. My hosts owned a beautiful wooden sailboat. Sorry, can't recall what kind, how it was rigged, or even its length. I know it seemed to have "ample" cabin space, more than enough room in the cockpit for the three of us, and a tiller. (This was long before I first crewed "for real.") At one point we had to come up a relatively narrow canal with the wind right on our nose. The captain told me he'd definitely need my help and I had to get it right on every tack or Bad Things Would Happen. Did a test run to make sure I had it right, and away we went. We would tack to just shy of the seawall and come about. There were people on shore watching in fascination. It was quite an exhilarating experience, let me tell you!

Jim