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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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I think I've created a monster...

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/20/2010 : 12:17:26

So 3 yrs ago when I bought my first sailboat and came over from the dark side, My wife Sara wasn't really fond of the heeling. Anything past 5 deg. and the white knuckle grip came out but after letting her take the tiller and sail the boat she now is no longer afraid but now loves to heel! With the tiller in her hand she didn't notice the heel so much until I would mention that we were at 20 deg. Here is a video of us two weeks ago pushing 30 deg. and Sara wanting more. How do I stop this! Help! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V8t3IzezWY

Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688
Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 06/20/2010 : 12:49:20

Congratulations! You've achieved something many sailors never do--a true partner in sailing! My late wife became antsy when the mast was straight up--wanting some wind to get the boat going. About 15 deg. was the groove she liked to be in. Giving her the helm is what did it for us--letting her feel in control. It also helped that she learned on a Sunfish, where she could really feel the relationship between the sail, rudder, and ballast (her) as they affected boat speed and heel.

Now you just need to show her how the boat goes faster when it's heeled less than 30 degrees, whether by sail trim or reefing.

Your "monster" is a gift!

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 06/20/2010 : 12:54:28

Good for you, we've discovered mostly the same, if I give Rita the tiller, she doesn't feel so out of control, and it's pretty easy to get to 15-20 degrees before she notices and begins to freak out. But she's also learned since she has the tiller in her hand, she can just fall off, and I play the main to spill air to keep her more on her feet. This seems to work well for us, I'm still having a good time, and she's not terrified and the winch barrels no longer have her fingerprints in them.

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Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2010 : 00:56:45

Good video, put a smile on my face. I think we more practice and experience I will get mine to that point someday. I recently installed a very quick reefing single line system that I can set under 15 seconds (will be posting a video soon). All I can say is that my wife quickly learned the word "Reefing". You know the saying that when you start thinking of reefing you should put one in already? Well my wife starts talking/thinking about reefing while we are driving into the parking lot about 15 minutes before we even get into the boat.

The funny thing is that we were sailing at 7+ knots while on a reef with only 1/3 of the jib out. It sure goes fast when flat and feels so comfortable and safe. We crossed the 5 mile stretch of our lake quickly and my wife saying "already?!".

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2010 : 03:22:32

I was shocked at how much I enjoyed the way my boat sailed when it was reefed. It really made me think about getting a smaller main.

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2010 : 06:00:02

Great video! It's good to have a partner that loves sailing, and it's funny you posted this now. I recently started seeing a girl I went to school years ago with and she loves to sail. She actually captained a 30 foot Catamaran on our beach here for 3 years, sailing almost every day all day in every kind of condition, so probably has more water hours than I do. I'm excited to say the least!

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2010 : 06:21:19

<< more water hours than I do >>

Ahrrrr.... you're a lucky man.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2010 : 08:19:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by DaveR
 ...so probably has more water hours than I do...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Same here... My "GF" of five years owned a Beetle Cat in Maine, was a small-boat sailing instructor, and raced her (and her ex's) Etchells and New York 30 (a 190x 43-footer) in Newport. No problem with heeling here! (All I need now is another sailboat--preferably a Herreshoff design.

)

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2010 : 13:24:48

I Usually would have rolled the Genoa up to about 100% or bared off the wind a little but sometimes its just a lot of fun to try and dunk a rail. Our record is 35% so far but we just couldn't break it that day. At 59yrs old I can't keep that up for long, To tiring for me. As a mater of fact many times I have taken Dave's advice and leave the main under cover and sail on the Genoa alone. Any thing above 10 knots of wind these boats move along just fine this way. Way easier than reefing the main if the wind goes higher in the afternoon like it does sometimes on the Sound. I like the lazy approach, Ha! Ha!

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2010 : 14:22:31

Dang! And we're still looking for an inclinometer that only goes up to 15°

Paul

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2010 : 14:44:20

Maybe if you fill the inclinometer with heavy white corn syrup, you can spend more time heeled over before it actually registers?

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2010 : 18:20:21

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 Dang! And we're still looking for an inclinometer that only goes up to 15°

Paul
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Put it on a gimbaled mount.

We hit 40 degrees lean last Saturday and Pat loved it!

Edited by - Nautiduck on 07/06/2010 18:21:05

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2010 : 05:54:29

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Dang! And we're still looking for an inclinometer that only goes up to 15°<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I know what you mean Paul, pretty much the same here.

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