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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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how to slow down and stop under sail

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/07/2003 : 21:00:37

This is from one of the few Sailnet articles I've ever read that were worth the time.

How to Slow down and Stop, John Rousmaniere, Sailnet

Feathering (sometimes called pinching) is to sailing what edging is to skiing, a brief check of speed in order to regain control. On a beat or reach, as you first feel a puff on your face and the boat starts to heel, quickly head up a few degrees until the luffs of the sails bubble and the boat levels a little. If that sharp shot to windward isn't enough, you can forereach—head up another few degrees until the sails luff about halfway back, but not so much that the boat stops. If forereaching doesn't spill enough wind, ease the sheets several inches and let most of the sails luff (this is sometimes called "sailing on your leech"). You can practice feathering and forereaching on a slalom course of a line of buoys laid into or across the wind.

I remember an event on our cruise to Catalina. We were beam reaching on the port tack in an area approaching the island called "The Slot". Wind was picking up, there were frequent white caps and I could see an area ahead with LOTS of whitecaps. Main was full and the entire 150 genny was full and pulling like a mule. The motor was running but doing nothing and we were sailing at about 6 knots.

We noticed a bunch of working birds and dolphins 1/4 mile to the windward. I put the helm over and tightened the sheets for a close reach to that area. The gust hit us then and we really heeled. I was concerned - I needed to roll up some genny and the cockpit was full of wife, kids and dogs trying to see what was going on. I couldn't get to the roller gear. I'm sure to you racers it was nothing. Not even a knockdown or anything like that.

After reducing the headsail (which failed) my first instinct was to turn into the wind even more but that seemed to make it much worse. So I fell off to a course just downwind of a beam reach, ordered the kids below, rolled up the genny to about a 100%, and resumed our course to the island - giving up on the dolphins. It all took about 30 seconds. This is a case where we could have used the tactics above.

When we first started sailing, I wouldn't go out if it was over 5 knots. Now I am seeing 15 knot afternoon winds, 2 - 3 foot seas, 20 miles offshore, things are different!

<img src="http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/pictures/icon.jpg" border=0>Indiscipline 1978 FK #398

Edited by - on

Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2003 : 10:09:27

Hi Jim,

You said "Wind was picking up, there were frequent white caps and I could see an area ahead with LOTS of whitecaps. Main was full and the entire 150 genny was full and pulling like a mule. "

This was one of those times when you would have really liked to tuck in a first reef in the mainsail and maybe have left the 150 alone. If you have your main halyard, boom topping lift and reefing lines lead aft on the cabin top, it will only take about a minute to tuck in the reef. Don't worry about tying up the sail, just reef the sail and leave the excess loose.

What you will probably find is that the boat balances to a nearly neutral feel on the tiller and that - because the bigger sail is in front of the mast - that the puffs do not tend to round you up into the wind so strongly. Makes for a much easier (crew kindly) ride.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

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Dave B
Admiral

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Mali
863 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2003 : 11:12:29

Jim... I agree with Bill on reefing the main first, but sometimes the roller is just a lot easier for quickly reducing sail--particularly since you can do it under way. What do you mean by "it failed" when you tried to reduce the genny? I've found, as I think you did, that rolling up the genny is easier and you get a smoother roll if you do it on a beam to broad reach, rather than when beating. It seems I can ease the sheet and control the wrap better--with the sail out almost as if running downwind. On a beat, you're either luffing (not conducive to a smooth wrap) or the sheet is fighting the furler.

Anyway, whether it's the main or the genny, it's better to be proactive in reducing sail, rather than reactive. Or as the old saying goes, the time to reduce sail is when it first crosses your mind.

We're all learning! <img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle>

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

Edited by - dave b on 08/08/2003 11:14:39

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Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2003 : 11:13:30

Bill (and anyone else who wants to ring in): I noticed in our last regatta that we were very competitive with our 150 and full main when heading to weather, but when we put in a reef, we lost ground to other boats even though the boat stayed on her feet and the speed looked good. I think it was because our pointing ability was greatly diminished, but, to tell you the truth, I was so busy driving that I wasn't checking the compass before and after tacks to actually verify the degrees we were tacking through.

The second day we started in nearly 20 knots. We had a reefed main and a reefed 130 (down to about 110%, in order to keep control of the boat. Again, our speed looked decent on the KM, but others were blowing us away until the wind finally laid down a bit (after seeing one dismasting that day), and we shook out the reefs. Then we passed everybody in our fleet and some that started 5 minutes ahead of us. It was a 23 NM beat down the Columbia River with no downwind leg.

Thoughts?

Gary Bruner
Encore! #685 SK/SR

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Dave B
Admiral

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Mali
863 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2003 : 11:23:04

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Thoughts?

Gary Bruner
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>
Just that you probably now know why the racers use hank-on sails. That big roll on the luff of the genny apparently wrecks its airfoil qualities, reducing your pointing ability and reducing some drive, particularly on a beat.

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

Edited by - dave b on 08/08/2003 11:24:02

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Bryan Beamer
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1038 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2003 : 11:44:59

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John G-
Admiral

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793 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2003 : 12:09:40

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Just that you probably now know why the racers use hank-on sails. That big roll on the luff of the genny apparently wrecks its airfoil qualities, reducing your pointing ability and reducing some drive, particularly on a beat.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>
 A lot of racers use [url="http://www.tuffluff.com/"] “Tuff Luff”[/url] on the forestay. That way you can use a jib with a bolt rope that will cut into the wind better and the [url="http://www.tuffluff.com/"] “Tuff Luff”[/url] has two slots so you can change headsails on the fly.

BTW I reach for the reef as soon as I see continuous white caps. On the [url="http://www.stormfax.com/beaufort.htm"] Beaufort Scale[/url] that should be a force 4 at about 14-16 knots. [url="http://www.catalina25-250.org/photo/peregrine2.jpg"]”Peregrine”[/url] sits right up and gets her feet under her and away we go.
Having all my [url="http://www.catalina25-250.org/tech/tech25/tt008.htm"]lines led aft [/url] makes this a snap.
Also as the wind pipes up I try to stay hard on the wind and I "pinch" if it gets to be a little too much. IMO this the safest angle, reaching or running can get you in trouble.

Underlined words are a HOT link.
Click on the “Peregrine” icon.
 

[url="http://www.peregrinefund.org/"]<img src="http://www.peregrinefund.org/images/intro_mid_image.GIF" border=0>[/url]
[url="http://www.catalina25-250.org/photo/peregrine2.jpg"]"Peregrine"[/url] C25-#4762 FK

Edited by - john g- on 08/08/2003 12:14:30

Edited by - john g- on 08/08/2003 12:16:17

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Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2003 : 12:46:53

Hi Gary,

It may be that a full reef was too much sail reduction. Perhaps a flattening reef would have kept you on your feet AND presented the most possible sail for the wind to use.

http://www.catalina25-250.org/tech/tech25/sdflatreef.html

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

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