Heaving to

davidpm · #1 (**permalink**) 10-24-2011

So here I am heaving to. Catalina 25, 15 to 20 knots, Genoa rolled up about 5 feet.

The boat was perfectly balanced making about 3 knots, probably more than half current.

I'm not to sure I'm happy with the sail being bent over the stay like that.
I'm thinking that before I heave to next time it would be better to roll the Genoa down to 100 percent so it clears the stay.

What do you think?

davidpm · #2 (**permalink**) 10-24-2011

Yes I know the reefing line setup is goofy at best but it works and didn't cost anything, not my boat.

Tempest · #3 (**permalink**) 10-25-2011

David, You are correct, you don't want to heave-to with an overlapping headsail, it will get chewed up like that.

With a jib that sits forward of the mast you don't even have to tack to get hove-to. You can backwind the headsail by winching in the lazy sheet, and easing the leeward sheet at the same time, while pinching up.

billyruffn · #4 (**permalink**) 10-25-2011

A point about heaving to -- having used this tactic several times on long offshore passages, I’ve found that it’s usually the case that if you tack and then heave to you will make better time toward your destination than if you just heave to. In other words, if you’re sailing towards your waypoint and heave to you will probably move away from your waypoint while hove to. Tack and then heave to and you’ll probably be moving toward it. At least that’s the way it’s worked for me.

Try it next time your out. Heaving to for 12 hours with a 3 knot leeway could cost you a considerable distance.

PS - I concur with the comment about eliminating chafe. Reef the headsail more. You might try to sheet it flat as well or you’ll chafe the sheet. You might find that you need a smaller headsail that has less “belly” in order to eliminate the chafe. If you can’t get a fair lead with no chafe on either sail or sheet you might have to rig chafing gear if you heave to for any length of time.

PPS -- I looked at the picture again. The jib track car appears to be well aft. Can you move it forward so that the sheet will be off the shroud? If not, lead the sheet through snatch block that’s attached further forward. Just an idea.

casey1999 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-31-2011

I am reading Jon Sander's book "Sextant, Sea and Solitude" (non stop triple circumnavigation) where he talks about heaving to with just a main sail. How do you do that? Thought you always need a jib and a main sail.

CalebD · #6 (**permalink**) 10-31-2011

Casey,
I've heard Evans and Beth Starzinger refer to the tactic you mention as "fore reaching".
Beth & Evans
You keep just enough way on to point into the wind.

casey1999 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-02-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by CalebD

Casey,
I've heard Evans and Beth Starzinger refer to the tactic you mention as "fore reaching".
Beth & Evans
You keep just enough way on to point into the wind.

Don't follow. Do you have only the main up or both main and jib. How do you fore reach with just a main?

Barquito · #8 (**permalink**) 11-02-2011

Would some boats have enough windage forward that it would fall off without the need of a jib? (BTW, I think Beth's last name is Leonard)

casey1999 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-02-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by casey1999

Don't follow. Do you have only the main up or both main and jib. How do you fore reach with just a main?

Fore-reaching [Archive] - Yachting and Boating World Forums

Maybe above is answer. The jib is pulled mid ship. If that is the case, a jib is used.

bandaidmd · #10 (**permalink**) 11-02-2011

The book by Larry and Lin Pardey titled something like storm tactics/heavy weather sailing has in depth discussions about heaving to