Heaving to

[AdamLein]

Originally Posted by Hartley18

Just to clear up any confusion that may or may not exist: Perhaps you aren't "making 5 knots of headway" when hove-to, but you will be moving slowly forward and to leeward. This is because, to remain hove-to you have to have steerage way.

Without a flow of water over the rudder, with the action of wind and waves, (most) boats won't stay pointing in the same direction to the wind. Since the whole idea is to find a balance between sailing forward (usually on the main) and being pushed back (usually by the jib), the rudder has to keep the boat pointed at the right angle to the wind.

Well, isn't it often the case that boats will "swing" while hove-to, heading up when they have steerage-way, slowing down, and then bearing off?

[fryewe]

I think the Pardeys' description of evaluating your boat's slick with paper towels, to avoid breaking waves in a major storm, making very little headway and very little leeway, includes the use of the bridled para anchor that they recommend for heaving to in storm or hurricane conditions. Until their para anchor is deployed, they make a bit of headway and leeway just like everyone else when hove to without the parachute.

[Cruiser2B]

Originally Posted by fryewe

I think the Pardeys' description of evaluating your boat's slick with paper towels, to avoid breaking waves in a major storm, making very little headway and very little leeway, includes the use of the bridled para anchor that they recommend for heaving to in storm or hurricane conditions. Until their para anchor is deployed, they make a bit of headway and leeway just like everyone else when hove to without the parachute.

thank you, i will re-read that book again on my next flight . if this is the case my alberg 30 heaves to quite well

[Hartley18]

Originally Posted by AdamLein

Well, isn't it often the case that boats will "swing" while hove-to, heading up when they have steerage-way, slowing down, and then bearing off?

Yep. ..but that's more to do with the main causing excess weather helm followed by the jib causing excess lee helm and repeat, than anything else. Some boats with bigger rudders and less sail area will "swing" less than others.

You'll find the rudder ends up setting the approximate direction of drift.