Babylon
Well-known member
Had a crew this weekend who, on crossing from Poole to the Solent, was finding it difficult to hold a good course to windward (F3 NNE).
So I asked him to keep his eyes completey shut - no cheating - and helm on the tiller simply by noise, angle of heel, speed though the water, wind on his cheek, etc.
My basic instruction was to bring the helm up if the boat slowed, came upright, and/or he heard and felt the sails start to flap, then let the helm down a bit until there was the only merest hint of being too close to the wind, repeating the process constantly with small adjustments only.
My next instruction was to keep a feel out for an increase in windspeed, as this indicated a gust was coming in and he could therefore point a little higher ('luff in a puff' I kept repeating), until the gust had passed, whereupon he had to come off the wind a little to keep saiing - and repeat the exercise of small adjustments to the tiller.
Incredibly, with his eyes shut, he became an instant expert - and enjoyed it thoroughly!
I think there's a lesson here for all of us, and I'm going to keep a blindfold handy for other crew in future.
So I asked him to keep his eyes completey shut - no cheating - and helm on the tiller simply by noise, angle of heel, speed though the water, wind on his cheek, etc.
My basic instruction was to bring the helm up if the boat slowed, came upright, and/or he heard and felt the sails start to flap, then let the helm down a bit until there was the only merest hint of being too close to the wind, repeating the process constantly with small adjustments only.
My next instruction was to keep a feel out for an increase in windspeed, as this indicated a gust was coming in and he could therefore point a little higher ('luff in a puff' I kept repeating), until the gust had passed, whereupon he had to come off the wind a little to keep saiing - and repeat the exercise of small adjustments to the tiller.
Incredibly, with his eyes shut, he became an instant expert - and enjoyed it thoroughly!
I think there's a lesson here for all of us, and I'm going to keep a blindfold handy for other crew in future.