Commands for going about.

Right I've taken most of the turns off that winch
When I say now just pull the rope up off that winch
Wait until I say now, the sail will try to move over, then fill with wind, it's supposed to do that
NOW

I only need to tell them a couple of times
Then it's just
ready
NOW
 
Shorter is better when racing.

Pre-tack helmsman calls: "Ready". Everyone in a switched on crew knows what this means.

When helmsman sees everyone is ready, as he starts to put helm over: "Tacking".

Delay between "Ready" and "Tacking" might be quick (1-2 seconds) or delayed (5-10 seconds) or could even never come if situation changes e.g. a lift.
 
MoodyNick said:
Sailing with different people, one hears different commends. I was brought up with "Ready about ..... Lee O" I have heard "Helm's alee" several times On Sunday a newly qualified day skipper said " wheel's to windward" which the was a new one. What's the norm, if there is one?
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Once, "Shall we fuck off back that way?", illicited the reply "Standing by to fuck off back that way."
 
.
When teaching I use:

'ready about'

'helm's a lee'

'lee-oh'

. . . simply because it accurately describes the three stages of the process. (or at least, it does once you explain what these strange utterances mean!)

Making it a two-stage process is (strictly speaking) an oversimplification, but when sailing with familiar crew it is whatever floats your boat and keeps heads intact.


- W
 
MoodyNick said:
TBH I think you are right. However there is a seperate question about when to say it. I forget about another skipper who said

Ready About .... Helm's A lee .... then Lee Ho when the stem passed through the wind.
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Yes, when to say it is the point, 'lee ho' is the act of pushing the tiller (or the ho, however it was spelt in old days) to the lee of the boat to initiate the turn not when head to wind half way through the turn.

Other than that, 'Ready about'...'Ready'....'Lee ho' and duck

or the other way, 'Stand by to gybe'...'Ready'....'Gybe ho' and duck quickly! :D
 
ctva said:
Yes, when to say it is the point, 'lee ho' is the act of pushing the tiller...
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Not on my watch.

Ready About: Put your wine down and get off your arse, then acknowledge me.
Helm Over: I just did it, so you need to stop talking and pay attention.
Lee Ho: Look, I did warn you, that was was when you were meant to undo that thing and pull on this one. Yes, it's hard to pull isn't it, but if you had done it when I said, it would have been easier. No I'm not getting at you. Fine, you go below then.
 
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webcraft said:
.
When teaching I use:

'ready about'

'helm's a lee'

'lee-oh'

. . . simply because it accurately describes the three stages of the process. (or at least, it does once you explain what these strange utterances mean!)

Making it a two-stage process is (strictly speaking) an oversimplification, but when sailing with familiar crew it is whatever floats your boat and keeps heads intact.


- W
Click to expand...

What are the 3 stages? I only know 2:

1. Prepare to tack.
2. Tack - put helm over which makes boat turn.

If I heard your 'Ready About' call I would know what that means.

But I would be confused by what 'helm's a lee' and then 'lee-oh' were telling me?
 
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webcraft said:
.

'ready about' / 'helm's a lee' / 'lee-oh'

. . . simply because it accurately describes the three stages of the process. (or at least, it does once you explain what these strange utterances mean!)

Making it a two-stage process is (strictly speaking) an oversimplification
Click to expand...
I am surprised by this thread. I have been reading "How to sail" books since 1960 or so and have never seen "helms-a-lee" and "lee-ho" described as anything other than the same thing. I have just checked the Kiss Guide to Sailing (Steve Sleight, recommended) and it is the same.

I can think of some reasons to tell novice crew that the boat is head-to-wind but would like to know your reasons for doing it.

I do the standard thing mostly, and when day-racing, when the crew should be exercising situational awareness, I call "Tacking" clearly at all times, and loudly if another boat is close. Then push the tiller down.

I raced with one guy a few seasons, we got attuned to each other, and he just put the tiller down and I responded with whatever was needed.
 
parsifal said:
'Ready about!'

'What on earth are you talking about?'

'I thought we might head off in that direction, if it's alright with you.'

'What do you expect me to do about it?'

'If I push this stick across to the side where that tight rope is, would you mind awfully letting it go and then going over to the other side and pulling in the loose one?'

'No, last time you did that I ended up in the shade and my nail varnish spilled. Why can't we use the engine like normal people?'
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Absolutely brilliant! The tears are rolling down my face with memories of chartering out of Loch Melfort in the 70s, then the time that the skipper acquired a SWMBO and insisted she accompany us on our 'lad's sailing fortnight'. When we anchored in Oban bay during the second week, they repaired to a hotel for the night and we 'forgot' to row ashore to pick them up the next morning! Thanks for that, Parsifal!
 
BobPrell said:
I am surprised by this thread. I have been reading "How to sail" books since 1960 or so and have never seen "helms-a-lee" and "lee-ho" described as anything other than the same thing. I have just checked the Kiss Guide to Sailing (Steve Sleight, recommended) and it is the same.

I can think of some reasons to tell novice crew that the boat is head-to-wind but would like to know your reasons for doing it.

I do the standard thing mostly, and when day-racing, when the crew should be exercising situational awareness, I call "Tacking" clearly at all times, and loudly if another boat is close. Then push the tiller down.

I raced with one guy a few seasons, we got attuned to each other, and he just put the tiller down and I responded with whatever was needed.
Click to expand...

I agree 100%. I have no idea what these 3 stages of tacking are. But then I've only been racing and cruising for about 35 yrs so obviously have plenty more to learn.

I also think that even if you are a cruiser, spending some time on a racing boat is a good learning experience to sharpen your boat and sail-handling skills. Because keeping things smooth and slick and efficient as racers try to do, is generally good for your cruising too.

I also 100% relate to your anecdote that a good crew doesn't even need the helmsman to call the tack, they just put the helm over and the crew respond quickly. They can even work out what's happening if the tack is started but abandoned halfway through with no verbal explanation from the helsman. They just reset the sails on the original side, no dramas.

Down my way, if the helmsman started giving a running commentary on the tacking process throwing in phrases like "helm's a lee" or "wheel's to windward" or whatever, the only effect would be to slow the boat down.... as the crew fell about laughing.

The most impressive crew experience I ever had was aboard Neville Crighton's supermaxi Alfa Romeo. The boat operated in virtual silence even through some of the most complex maneouvres. The amount of noise a crew makes is in inverse proportion to their level of skill and teamwork.

I think many lifelong cruisers build up bad, lazy habits. I certainly found that spending time on racing boats made me realise I could improve my own cruising skills and lose some ingrained habits.
 
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+1 Rob_Webb, exact same with us. Never been any old farts in peaked caps on our boats. Crusin' has always been just easy relax mode and on the campaigned boats was all much too serious for all that sort of amateur histrionics.

Got some good ideas from here to try next time I'm on the boat though. Thought I might try something like "Ready About!", pause, "Look Smart Chappies!, Helm's A Lee!", pause, "Let Fly Fellows!", pause, "Lee-Oh!", pause, "Easy Winches!", pause, "Hardening Up Now! Winches!". All sent over the deck address system.

Needed to be followed closely not by "Good Job Fellows", as it would all have come to grief at the second command which would have confused the hell out of everyone, but by starting again with "Stop rolling around on the deck laff'n you barstewards, let's get this eff'n boat turned around, NOW!!!!!", and then silence as the job is done.
 
CelebrityScandel said:
Got some good ideas from here to try next time I'm on the boat though. Thought I might try something like "Ready About!", pause, "Look Smart Chappies!, Helm's A Lee!", pause, "Let Fly Fellows!", pause, "Lee-Oh!", pause, "Easy Winches!", pause, "Hardening Up Now! Winches!". All sent over the deck address system.
Click to expand...

Good idea. In fact if you tack slowly enough then you should be able to squeeze in a few extra value-adding-progress phrases like "Halfway there now" and "Straightening rudder again" and "About manoeuvre complete - well done".

And then if the helmsman needs to hand over to someone else he can say "You have the con" which must be answered with "I have the con".

Seriously, what are they teaching people at sailing schools these days?
 
Used to race an 8 metre in the 60's,and the skipper was at least 70.
The first command was STAND BY
then READY ABOUT
then LEE HO.
Beautiful lines called the Severn.The Wye and the If were also in Cork at the time,wonder if they are still about?
PS,When racing against an Italian boat it's fairly easy to tell when they are about to tack as you can see the ciggis being lobbed over the side!
 
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ctva said:
Seriously, what are they teaching people at sailing schools these days?
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That there are three stages to tacking.

Ready about - everyone in position and ready to go when answered

Helm to lee (or whatever) - the manoeuvre is actually starting!

Le Ho - that's the point (and not before) that the helm wants the crew to let go (Le) of one sheet and haul in (Ho) the other.


Is this wrong?


.
 
3 stages.

Ready about.
Helms a lee - start the turn.
Let go and haul (lee ho) - pull the jib across

If you're sailing with RYA trained crew, expect to get caught in irons if you shout lee ho when you actually mean helms a lee.
 
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