Engineless?

[nolatom]

"I found that you don't need a full gale to sail under bare poles. You can do it, even in moderate winds. Also, under favorable circumstances (especially in smooth water), you can even tack to windward to a certain extent, although it obviously takes patience"

Sailormon, you've piqued my interest with this one. How do I tack to windward with bare poles? I'm a *"Motor? We don't need no stinkin' motor!"* kind of guy, but even so hadn't considered the above possible. From what do you get the kind of lift to take you upwind? The mast? the hull shape?

'Splain please?

[Sailormon6]

Originally Posted by nolatom

"I found that you don't need a full gale to sail under bare poles. You can do it, even in moderate winds. Also, under favorable circumstances (especially in smooth water), you can even tack to windward to a certain extent, although it obviously takes patience"

Sailormon, you've piqued my interest with this one. How do I tack to windward with bare poles? I'm a *"Motor? We don't need no stinkin' motor!"* kind of guy, but even so hadn't considered the above possible. From what do you get the kind of lift to take you upwind? The mast? the hull shape?

'Splain please?

I'm assuming it works the same way that it works when you use sails to sail to windward. Wind on the side of the hull provides the driving force, the keel provides lateral resistance, and the boat slides forward, in the direction of the least resistance. The wind pressure on the hull is fairly equally distributed fore and aft, so it's similar to having a balanced sailplan in that respect. The wind on the bow is trying to push the bow to leeward, and that is countered by the wind on the stern, which is holding the bow toward the wind. It obviously helps to have all the conditions in your favor, including smooth water and a clean, slippery bottom and keel, and it also helps if the boat has a little momentum to begin with.

I don't blame you if you're a little skeptical. I was stunned the first time I did it.

[LuckyDollar]

I have a 22' sailboat that I am restoring which does not have power, and I get a bit worried at the thought of sailing without power. I think its all in your confidence level. If it were me at this stage in my life I would not do it (and I would replace the atomic 4 with a diesel engine). I would love to get to the point where I can tag my mooring ball without power but I am not there yet. Overall the technique to sailing a boat without power can be different at times and you should gauge your abilities to do things like moor/dock under sail. Best of luck.

22' Sailmaster Sailboat Restoration

[tager]

I dock under sail all the time. However, I tend to do so on a run in light winds. This is typical for my dock. Leaving the dock under sail would be impossible for me. I have been considering getting a 12' sweep just to experiment but have yet to do so.

[hellosailor]

"I would love to get to the point where I can tag my mooring ball without power but I am not there yet. "
In my first sailing lessons, in Solings, we tagged the mooring ball perfectly at the end of the first day, first time. So the instructor says ok, that was too easy, let it go and let's do it again. I think "again" took a good half hour to happen.

An engine is like an attack dog. As long as it obeys perfectly, it can be a very good thing to have around.

[dnf777]

Originally Posted by FSMike

Ed -

While I'm here, I am really paranoid about gas inboards. I would rather have an outboard if I couldn't afford a diesel.
Fair winds.

Made me chuckle. I agree, but grew up on I/O gas motorboats, that warned to always vent the compartment with the "sparkless" fans prior to starting if the boat sat more than 30 minutes. Ok, so how bout 29 minutes?

My friends would always laugh at me when I would say, "nice knowin' ya" each time before turning the key. Always worried it was going to be a scene out of Miami Vice.

[LuckyDollar]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

"I would love to get to the point where I can tag my mooring ball without power but I am not there yet. "
In my first sailing lessons, in Solings, we tagged the mooring ball perfectly at the end of the first day, first time. So the instructor says ok, that was too easy, let it go and let's do it again. I think "again" took a good half hour to happen.

An engine is like an attack dog. As long as it obeys perfectly, it can be a very good thing to have around.

I love it when everything just works out right, but it is that consistency that I worry about.

[AdamLein]

Originally Posted by tager

I dock under sail all the time. However, I tend to do so on a run in light winds.

What's your dock arrangement, and what sail do you have up when you do it?