sailing rudderless...

[Rockter]

We practiced sailing rudderless (in our case rudder centred) at the week-end, and the ship managed to close haul ok.
How the heck do you throw a tack though?

[bubb2]

Start by centering the main. Make sure you can carry your boat speed through the tack. Start by back winding the main a little be careful not to stall the boat. as the bow starts through the wind let the head sail back wind this will give a extra "push" to get the bow around. When you 30 to 45 degrees off the the wind on the new tack let the head sail come over and re-trim the main. the I hope this helps

[sailhog]

He's trying to tack without the use of the rudder, so he shouldn't be touching the wheel or the tiller.

Will the boat come about if you furl in the headsail and move the traveller to windward?

[bubb2]

Yes i stand corrected, I want to add, to get the turning to windward ease the head sail trim, the main should bring you windward when you are dead into the wind that is when you backwind the main.

[sailingdog]

Sailhog-

Bubb2's describing a way to tack the boat without using the rudder.

[bubb2]

dog, before i edited my first post I did say throw the tiller over.

[sailingdog]

Ahh.. sorry sailhog... I stand corrected retroactively.

[sailhog]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Ahh.. sorry sailhog... I stand corrected retroactively.

I stand corrected PROactively. This has made me friendless and virtually unemployable.

[SAILMONSTER]

Originally Posted by Rockter

We practiced sailing rudderless (in our case rudder centred) at the week-end, and the ship managed to close haul ok.
How the heck do you throw a tack though?

Utilize weight if possible. Once balanced the easiest way to manuever is by headsail with sheet in hand.

[dhornsey]

If tacking is too difficult or problematic, jibing all the way around rudderless is quite a bit easier.