[Public-List] Two days sailing...leaving the helm to make adjustments at the mast.
Michael Connolly
crufone at comcast.net
Thu Jun 14 07:44:31 PDT 2018
OK, I'll try it some time in moderate air and lots of sea space.
Michael
----- Original Message -----
From: "Zachary Smith via Public-List" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
Cc: "Zachary Smith" <zacharysmith.us at gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2018 10:38:28 AM
Subject: Re: [Public-List] Two days sailing...leaving the helm to make adjustments at the mast.
Try it. She'll gently swing tack to tack, making little/no ground.
Zach
On Thursday, June 14, 2018, Gordon Laco via Public-List <
public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> The Alberg 30 cannot heave to under main alone, particularly with the
> tiller free. Our boats will heave to under bare pole, but key to the
> procedure is clamping or otherwise fixing the helm down.
>
> Gordon Laco
> www.gordonlaco.com
> #426 Surprise
>
>
>
> > On Jun 14, 2018, at 10:21 AM, Michael Connolly via Public-List <
> public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> >
> > Zach & Gord,
> > It was news to me that the A 30 will heave to with only the main hoisted
> and the tiller free? Is that true? What have other owners experienced? I
> heave to so I can take down the main at my leisure, sail to the dock and
> douse the jib with a downhaul. In other words, I have heaved to with only
> the jib but not only the main. I expected that she would sail around in
> circles with only the main up and the tiller free. What position is the
> main only in heave to configuration, boom on centerline? Good to learn of
> new techniques.
> > I thought that Gord while racing and going up to the mast was also
> attempting to maintain his desired course while making adjustments at the
> mast. Gord, is that true, or did you alter to a more stable (balanced)
> point of sail while going to the mast?
> >
> > I expect that heaving to for the sailor is like hoisting the AP flag for
> a PRO.
> >
> > Thanks for all the tips.
> > Michael
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> >
> > From: "Zachary Smith via Public-List" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> > To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <
> public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> > Cc: "Zachary Smith" <zacharysmith.us at gmail.com>
> > Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2018 11:50:36 PM
> > Subject: [Public-List] Fwd: Two days sailing...leaving the helm to make
> adjustments at the mast.
> >
> > I almost exclusively single hand my boats. The routine for me depends on
> > situation, but here are the common cases:
> >
> > 1) Marina.
> > Exit marina under aux power. Point into wind, adjust engine speed to
> push
> > the boat forward at 1-2 knots. Bungee tiller to neutral. Go to mast and
> > hoist. Don't forget to keep an eye on watercraft around you.
> >
> > 2) Switch Jib/Genoa Underway.
> > Maneuver to reach. Balance the sails. Tiller free. Free the jib sheet.
> Go
> > forward drop genny/jib. Boat will will round up to to heave. Raise the
> new
> > jenny/jib. Go back and start turning back onto a reach. The boat may not
> be
> > on the same tack you left her on at this point. Sheet in the jib/jenny
> > before she makes the reach. You can steer the tiller with your butt
> while
> > you sheet in.
> >
> > 3). Holy Crap Situation.
> > Turn the boat into the wind. Let the tiller free. Get that jenny/jib
> down
> > before she bears off. Now you're heaved and you can address the problem.
> I
> > use hank-ons for a lot of reasons; if you use a furler you can't run a
> > downhaul on the forestay (or could you? never tried). But I run
> downhauls
> > on my foresails so I can get them down fast without transiting all the
> way
> > to the foredeck (safe!).
> >
> > The thing about the A30 is, with just the main up you can leave the
> tiller
> > free and she'll heave. This is your primary tool in lieu of a
> complicated
> > mechanism like a tiller pilot or a wench.
> >
> > Zach
> >
> > On Tue, Jun 12, 2018 at 9:28 PM, Michael Connolly <crufone at comcast.net>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Zach,
> >> By hand downwind? Would you explain?
> >>
> >> I was suggesting how to safely leave the helm for let's say 30 sec to
> make
> >> an adjustment at the mast and then head back to the helm. All this with
> out
> >> any sophisticated gadget on board. For someone who single hands this
> would
> >> be handy information.
> >>
> >> Let me add that the sea state is reasonable, wind not too heavy or
> gusty
> >> and no specific current.
> >> Michael
> >>
> >> ------------------------------
> >> *From: *"Zachary Smith" <zacharysmith.us at gmail.com>
> >> *To: *"Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <
> >> public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> >> *Cc: *"Michael Connolly" <crufone at comcast.net>
> >> *Sent: *Tuesday, June 12, 2018 10:53:41 PM
> >> *Subject: *Re: [Public-List] Two days sailing...
> >>
> >> Balance the sails on a reach, jib sheet to tiller hard on, by hand
> >> downwind.
> >>
> >> Zach
> >>
> >> On Tuesday, June 12, 2018, Michael Connolly via Public-List <
> >> public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Gord,
> >>> Now that I know you don't have a tiller. What simple system would you
> use
> >>> if you had a tiller? What would be simple and reliable to jaunt up to
> the
> >>> mast loosen the halyard and jaunt back to the cockpit?
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> ----- Original Message -----
> >>>
> >>> From: "Michael Connolly" <crufone at comcast.net>
> >>> To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all"
> <public-list at lists.alberg30.or
> >>> g>
> >>> Sent: Monday, June 11, 2018 5:35:47 PM
> >>> Subject: Re: [Public-List] Two days sailing...
> >>>
> >>> Gord,
> >>> What do you use to handle the tiller whilst you go forward to the mast
> to
> >>> adjust halyards, etc.? Bungee cords? Auto helm? Tiller tamer?
> >>> Michael
> >>>
> >>> ----- Original Message -----
> >>>
> >>> From: "Gordon Laco via Public-List" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> >>> To: "public Alberg 30 List -- open to all"
> <public-list at lists.alberg30.or
> >>> g>
> >>> Cc: "Gordon Laco" <mainstay at csolve.net>
> >>> Sent: Monday, June 11, 2018 9:15:22 AM
> >>> Subject: [Public-List] Two days sailing...
> >>>
> >>> Hello gang…
> >>>
> >>> Well I got out on the water both days this past weekend… they were
> very
> >>> different days sailing…
> >>>
> >>> On Saturday I had intended to work on my MG, which is undergoing what
> has
> >>> become a massive rebuild. Well I should say I was going to hold tools
> and
> >>> watch while my friend did the work, but he had to cancel so I sat here
> >>> wondering what to do with an unexpected day with no obligations… then
> I
> >>> remembered that Saturday is the day our Club was running its annual
> Single
> >>> Handed Race. I gulped my coffee and made it to the club just as the
> >>> skipper’s meeting was ending, and got my name on the list. When asked
> if I
> >>> was wanted to be rated flying sails or white sails, I first said ‘naw,
> >>> white sails only, I don’t feel very energetic.’
> >>>
> >>> Then I looked out the clubhouse windows at the glassy water, slack
> flags
> >>> and masthead wind indicators pointing all different directions and
> thought
> >>> about the misery of the downwind leg back from Flat Point… and said
> ‘Oh,
> >>> can I change that… flying sails please’. They changed it.
> >>>
> >>> As usual for a weekend race, the fleet was much diminished, being
> >>> composed of myself in SURPRISE, two Express 30’s, a CS27, three
> Sharks, the
> >>> deadly fast VOODOO DANCER, a well sailed Viking 28, and my friend and
> arch
> >>> rival Matt in his Pearson 27. Matt and I chatted bit on the wharf
> catching
> >>> up… but suddenly I saw the committee boat shooting out of the club…
> crap,
> >>> we’re late, better get out there for the start.
> >>>
> >>> So out SURPRISE and I hummed, when out at Midland Shoal buoy I shut
> down
> >>> the mill and hoisted sail. Looking back over my shoulder I saw Matt in
> >>> SUNDANCER hoisting sail right at the club’s breakwater… hmmm, he’s got
> a
> >>> long way to beat to get to the start, I thought, and joined in the to
> and
> >>> fro swinging. Before the start.
> >>>
> >>> No sooner had I got into the fray but the air started filling in. East
> >>> with a bit of north in it… could this be? Yup… Like a slow motion
> movie
> >>> being sped up to normal speed, all the yachts began showing bow waves,
> then
> >>> heeling over as the breeze built. The five minute horn went, I caught
> it on
> >>> my stopwatch… down came the sequence and as the last seconds counted
> down
> >>> here comes the herd all on starboard tack jostling each other up to
> the
> >>> line. Were was I? On port tack of course, reaching along at 5 knots. I
> let
> >>> them all cross our bow and the line… then hardened up my sheets and
> crossed
> >>> alone in clear air at speed. The rest of the fleet all ran a few
> hundred
> >>> meters on starboard then one after the other tacked onto port and
> started
> >>> down the course.
> >>>
> >>> I should describe the course… the Single Handed is a ‘distance race’,
> >>> normally running east to Flat Point off Port McNichol, then north and
> a bit
> >>> west up to Ross Shoal, then back round Midland Point to a finish off
> the
> >>> Club’s breakwater. Because the air looked so light, the course was
> >>> shortened to just Flat Point and back…. and it was looking like I
> could lay
> >>> it in one long close reach. Could this be? Oh yes.
> >>>
> >>> The wind steadily built, and backed a little more to the north so
> after
> >>> the first fifteen minutes we found ourselves bounding along at 6.4
> knots
> >>> with sheets cracked a little, heeling about fifteen degrees… in first
> >>> place.
> >>>
> >>> Several miles later, I knew we were nearing the red pin off Flat
> Point,
> >>> but as usual I couldn’t see it against the trees behind it. I swear
> it’s
> >>> one of those pins that is mischievously moved by the CCG just to annoy
> >>> people trying to find it… then I saw it… a few degrees to leeward. The
> >>> leaders of the pack were now about even with me but several hundreds
> of
> >>> yards to windward… and clearly they hadn’t seen it yet and were still
> >>> sailing the higher course. They were VOODOO DANCER and two of the
> Sharks.
> >>> haha.
> >>>
> >>> Then the air got softer, SURPRISE slowed dramatically to 4.1 knots. I
> >>> dashed up to the mast and eased my halyards, eased the outhaul, then
> jumped
> >>> back to the tiller. As I returned I saw my foes had finally seen the
> mark
> >>> and were coming down, carrying a renewed breeze with them…. They got
> by me,
> >>> one of the Sharks blanketing me a bit but we all rounded together…
> >>> SURPRISE’s bow nearly overhanging VOODOO’s transom. One of the Sharks,
> >>> VOODOO and SURPRISE started back to Midland… the new breeze making the
> >>> return again a close reach. At first the Shark and VOODOO stayed in
> close
> >>> company… but as the wind built again I could not only keep up but felt
> like
> >>> overtaking. The Shark took a shot upwind with tight sheets…. I was in
> about
> >>> a boat length behind VOODOO. I could see him continually glancing at
> me… I
> >>> guess he could hear my bow wave and this was annoying him. I feigned a
> shot
> >>> to windward myself as it I were going to try to drive over him but as
> soon
> >>> as I saw him tightening his sheets to climb himself in order to block
> me, I
> >>> eased sheets and dove to leeward. VOODOO didn’t look back for a fatal
> four
> >>> or five minutes during which I got far enough to leeward that I could
> drive
> >>> through below him out of his wind shadow… and got by.
> >>>
> >>> By this time VOODOO was far enough up that he was feeling the nearness
> of
> >>> the Shark, and for the rest of the race the two of them jostled each
> other,
> >>> the Shark trying to get by, VOODOO trying to defend his lead. I left
> them
> >>> to it, and concentrated on getting the most out of the building air. I
> was
> >>> up to the mast and back several times tuning for the increasing breeze
> that
> >>> was romping us along at 6.1 knots. We passed Midland Shoal buoy, one
> mile
> >>> from the finish… when VOODOO saw that we were going to beat him to the
> >>> finish. He finally stopped fighting with the Shark and eased sheets a
> >>> little in order to use his windward position to come down and catch
> us. It
> >>> didn’t happen.
> >>>
> >>> So SURPRISE, a full keeled yacht heavily laden with cruising gear that
> I
> >>> can’t be bothered to unload despite the fact that we race every week…
> won
> >>> on real time, then was catapulted ahead by our PHRF rating. What a
> great
> >>> race. I think what saved us was the fact that the shortened course
> didn’t
> >>> have any hard beating to windward, just close reaching both ways which
> of
> >>> course is our best point of sail. Wahoo.
> >>>
> >>> But what happened to Matt in SUNDANCER? He was very late to the start…
> so
> >>> didn’t do the race. I don’t know what happened to him, but hope
> nothing
> >>> broke.
> >>>
> >>> Sunday, I went for a sail out of Toronto with my good friend Janice in
> >>> her A30 LITTLE WINGS. Down in the city it was blowing 20 - 25kts or
> so,
> >>> whipping white caps in the harbour and sending Albacore dinghies
> planing
> >>> back and forth as we took the tender over to the island. We tucked a
> reef
> >>> in the main, but ended up sailing under genny alone all day and that
> was
> >>> plenty of sail for a pleasure jaunt. Out past the East Headland, the
> east
> >>> wind was sending waves down the length of Lake Ontario, so the waves
> were
> >>> nice mature 5-6 footers with an occasional breaking crest. We bounded
> away
> >>> south for a while, then tacked and bounded back to the city. Wonderful
> >>> sailing in really exhilarating conditions.
> >>>
> >>> A fellow in a trimaran paced the racers on Saturday and took a series
> of
> >>> nice photographs of some of the boats in the Single Handed Race on
> Saturday
> >>> (two of the Sharks, the CS27, an Express 30 and ourselves) I’ll
> forward
> >>> them if anyone wants to see them.
> >>>
> >>> Nice weekend.
> >>>
> >>> Gordon Laco
> >>> www.gordonlaco.com
> >>> #426 Surprise
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
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> >>
> >>
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