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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

steering with only jib up

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sanibelle36
Deckhand

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USA
3 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/22/2002 : 00:45:32

Hi,

I was sailing today in about a 12 knot wind. Unfurled jib and could not control boat direction with helm. The wind turned the bow to port even with the tiller hard to the port side. Would this be normal with the mainsail down? Seemed like the leverage of the wind on the jib was overpowering the force on the rudder. Was this the case?

Anxious,

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 06/22/2002 : 13:55:50

Hi Sannibelle,

I do this all the time and the problem that you describe is a passing thing. The boat should be allowed to develope headway before attempting to steer your course. It will fall off until it developes momentum at which time you can regain the desired direction you have in mind.
Val

Val Bisagni

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 06/22/2002 : 17:48:01

Part of getting going, as Val suggests, is not sheeting in too tight. Assume that you're not going to point as high on the jib alone, and allow the boat to get some "way on" (forward or backward motion). Until then, the rudder and keel don't do anything for you. Also, expect some lee helm--if you let go of the tiller, she'll turn downwind instead of up. Also, keep in mind that if you push the tiller too hard either way (past 45 degrees or so), the rudder will just slow the boat--it won't steer it very well.

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette "Passage" in SW CT

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 06/22/2002 17:51:00

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Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 06/23/2002 : 09:53:13

Using your sails is some what of a balancing act. The mainsail and jib are on either side of a "teeter-totter" - with the keel as the fulcrum. If only one is hoisted, that one tends to overpower your boat accordingly.

If you only hoist the main, the boat tends to have much more of a weather vane characteristic and pivots around the keel into the eye of the wind. If you hoist only the jib, the boat tends to round downwind in a series of jibes.

Having both sails hoisted balances the boat and is generally easier on the boatsteerer.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

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Tony Dillon
Navigator

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USA
168 Posts

Response Posted - 06/23/2002 : 16:37:49

Bill is right about needing both sails to keep the boat in balance and improve the steering. ASA's book, "Sailing Fundamentals" by Gary Jobson teaches a lesson steering the boat using only the sails which also demonstrates balance.

Tony Dillon
Mental Floss

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 06/23/2002 : 21:27:06

True, but with roller furling, sometimes its nice to just pull out the jib. It can be by far the easiest way to get some sail out and get it back in when you're not in a hurry to get somewhere. There's no reason why Sanibelle shouldn't be able to do that in reasonable conditions.

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette "Passage" in SW CT

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jellyfish
Navigator

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USA
171 Posts

Response Posted - 06/24/2002 : 11:03:03

April and I try to take a cocktail cruise every Wed to break up the week. Just a chance to get out on the water and have a drink. I dont have RF but, more often than not we set the jib alone. We are not in a hurry and the Jellyfish sails just fine under jib alone. I dont know of any boat, sail or motor that you can steer if you are not making way. everything mentioned before about balance etc, etc, is true enough. that said, if your jib is set correctly for the point of sail you shouldnt have any trouble steering. In fact many times once we set a point of sail I turn over the steering to the tiller tamer. everyone knows that has had a tiller tamer, that everything has to be in pretty good balance or the tiller tamer wont cut it!

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John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2002 : 12:10:58

I did that once with my roller furling 150% in a moderately strong breeze and could not get the boat to point up at all. I could only get it to about 80 degrees off the wind; slightly above a beam reach. Never did that again. Downwind I think it would be no problem.

I sail often with just the main up, though. Usually when it's windy enough that the main is reefed. I guess I need to look into getting a 110% head sail. Trying to reef the 150% with the roller furling just doesn't work too well either.

John Mason - Ali Paroosa
1982 - FK/SR #3290

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.