BLUEMOMENT

If you took the trouble to read what I had written you chump, you would see that I suggested pulling the mainsheet in to prevent the boom crashing into the shroud as it goes across.

If you are running or reaching and sheet in, the boat will attempt to sail higher - that is unless Fairwinds is like no other
Lesson 1 in understanding boat controls - sit with the boat beam on to the wind and sails flapping downwind. (The RYA basic hove-to position)
Leave the tiller/rudder central
Sheet in foresail - boat bears away as pressure comes on the front of the boat and pushes it away from the wind
Sheet in Mainsail - boat comes up to windward as the pressure is now on the back of the boat - forcing it away from the wind and conversely bringing the front up to windward

So going back to what I wrote
You have a large mainsail and a relatively small rudder blade. Sheet in the main, whichever point of sail you are on and the boat will try to come up into the wind.
If you are pitting this force against the rudder blade you are just making life hard work.
Ever tried rudderless sailing Nick?

I was in the process of writing - "Nick, I fear you misunderstand. Claymore is such a nervous thoroughbred of a boat that there is no way that the sheet can be eased after the gybe fast enough to stop her rounding up, whereas normally she will be moving so fast that the apparent wind will cushion the swing of the mainsail. Such poetry in motion surely requires a YouTube clip (preferably taken in >F5) to demonstrate the technique." - but Claymore's explanation arrived prior to my post.

I now realise that Claymore is such a tub, or the skipper is so cack-handed, that it cannot sail downwind with the main centred. Maybe if the skipper stood centrally rather than inducing heel and an asymmetric water form to the hull the problem could be solved?

.

All boats I have sailed will sail downwind (or on a very broad reach) with the main centred quite comfortably. In fact, on Fairwinds we have been known to take the main down while sailing downwind with the boom centred.

I think the dinghy sailing you have been doing may have confused you - we are talking about yachts here.

The principles of sailing boats is fundamentally the same be it in a dinghy or an offshore yacht. Its why the majority of successful offshore racers and cruisers have graduated from dinghies and fare much better than those who have not.

Marisca - 2 boats you in one, me in the other. Course and wind conditions of your choice.
You will find I am not cack handed.

claymore wrote:The principles of sailing boats is fundamentally the same be it in a dinghy or an offshore yacht.

Indeed - and I think you will find that either will sail downwind with the boom centred.

Struggling to understand why you want to sail with a centralised main when you are executing a gybe.

claymore wrote: Marisca - 2 boats you in one, me in the other. Course and wind conditions of your choice.
You will find I am not cack handed.

Round Mull Race 6th-8th July would be ideal - or name your seconds so mine may make arrangements with them for field and weapons.

marisca wrote:... name your seconds ...

I would offer but I haven't yet extracted all of Patriot's tiller extension frae ma' airse after attempting this manoeuver recently.

claymore wrote:Struggling to understand why you want to sail with a centralised main when you are executing a gybe.

The main is centred prior to putting the stern through the wind and then released smoothly as the wind goes across the stern. Standard practice on the majority of non-racing boats in anything but the lightest of airs.

Safe, simple and only slightly slower than an all-standing gybe, which seems to be what you favour. Probably something to do with being indoors at the time with your aging cranium safe from the boom and blissfully unaware of the stresses you are imparting to the rig.

Cooper, looks like you've pulled . . .

Nick wrote:

claymore wrote:Struggling to understand why you want to sail with a centralised main when you are executing a gybe.

The main is centred prior to putting the stern through the wind and then released smoothly as the wind goes across the stern. Standard practice on the majority of non-racing boats in anything but the lightest of airs.

Safe, simple and only slightly slower than an all-standing gybe. .

And that is what they teach you "Yachtmasters" nowadays is it?

claymore wrote:And that is what they teach you "Yachtmasters" nowadays is it?

More accurately, it is what us Yachtmaster Instructors teach would-be yachtmasters.

It is the way most people gybe a yacht in anything but very light airs.

Perhaps you would benefit from some training? I do reduced rates for OAPs.

I expect that I have to put my input on this one. Not all Yachtmaster Instructors teach the sheeting in prior to gybeing. I have sailed yachts that if the mainsheet was sheeted in the yacht would not gybe. In my opinion I prefer to do and teach this gybeing business from the main sheet eased to a broad reach position and never have had any problem with this. All crew in position with tasks designated, nice and easy on the turn, sheet in smartly, centre main and stern to the wind, ease away the main and pass the jib across.

Nick wrote:

claymore wrote:And that is what they teach you "Yachtmasters" nowadays is it?

More accurately, it is what us Yachtmaster Instructors teach would-be yachtmasters.

It is the way most people gybe a yacht in anything but very light airs.

Perhaps you would benefit from some training? I do reduced rates for OAPs.

Arseylittletwat

Hubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble.

Old Troll wrote: I expect that I have to put my input on this one. Not all Yachtmaster Instructors teach the sheeting in prior to gybeing. I have sailed yachts that if the mainsheet was sheeted in the yacht would not gybe. In my opinion I prefer to do and teach this gybeing business from the main sheet eased to a broad reach position and never have had any problem with this. All crew in position with tasks designated, nice and easy on the turn, sheet in smartly, centre main and stern to the wind, ease away the main and pass the jib across.

My point is that there should be little or no slack in the mainsheet at the moment the wind crosses the stern of the boat. You appear to be saying the same thing - that the main is sheeted in before the stern of the boat is put through the wind. Not sure quite what you think I am suggesting that is any different. Bear away until the genoa begins to collapse, sheet in and centre the main, put the stern through the wind and ease the main back out onto a broad reach.