do you gybe?

[QuickMick]

well, this is obviously related to my last post, but the edit function wouldnt allow me to add a poll.

[BubbleheadMd]

I said "regularly" and I'll add the caveat "because I learned how to, while racing".

I'm always really careful, and I won't do it if the wind is really up.

[smackdaddy]

Posted explanation in the other thread. I'm a regular.

[AdamLein]

Considering the alternative, sailing downwind would really really suck if I never gybed.

Question ill-posed.

[catamount]

We gybe, on purpose, on a regular basis, as appropriate.

Still, sometimes things can happen when we're maybe not quite ready for them....

So we use a preventor whenever conditions warrant to help keep the boom from flying across unannounced.

We try to pay a lot of attention to the windex, wind conditions, sea state, etc...

[IslanderGuy]

Regularly, but only in light winds and "usually" in a very controlled manor. (accidents do happen though ) When sailing on the river the wind usually runs up or down, rarely across. So when running down wind in light airs its either wing and wing or gybing a lot so we can run on a broad reach rather then DDW. Here is my usual...

1. Light winds, steady direction - wing and wing if we can.
2. Light winds, shifting, broad reach and gybe. (We get a lot of shifting winds that can cause an accidental gybe very easily.)
3. Medium winds, maybe gybe if plenty of crew in the mood, or chicken gybe if short handed or just want easier sailing.
4. Brisk winds or more, chicken gybe.

(NOTE: I'm not a racer)

[luffupsam]

What is a Chicken Gybe ?

Sam

Ericson 32-3

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by luffupsam

What is a Chicken Gybe ?

Sam

Ericson 32-3

Coming about (tacking) through 270 degrees to avoid putting the stern through the eye of the wind. (gybing).

[Faster]

We've chicken-gybed even while racing when conditions warrant.. and it's not always a dead-simple manoeuvre either... It's best to trim the sails throughout the 'harden-up and tack and falling off' lest the boat slow enough to settle into irons.

[CalypsoP35]

Almost always gybe. The trick is to trim hard as you're going into the gybe and release as soon as the wind comes around the back of the sail. When done properly there is very little stress on the rig, even in heavy wind conditions.

It's all about timing as I'm yelling to my crew "trim! trim! trim! trim! trim g$d d&#m it, trim faster! release! release! good job!" Yes, I do have to ply my crew with some spirits after we drop the sails to get them to come back.