Do you hove to?

[PhillM]

I have recently learned how to put Paean hove to and it seems to work really well. She sits bows just off the wind, settles down really nicely and only makes 0.2 knots over ground.

I have been using it quite a bit for reefing or bringing down the main, putting on fenders + warps etc. I have also used it as a way of sitting outside the main channel while a tanker came past etc. Seems like a really useful tactic.

Looking around, I don’t see anyone else doing it. Am I am missing something?

 

[Chrusty 1]

No, but I have been known to heave to on occasions.............

 

[prv]

No, but I have been known to heave to on occasions.............

Damn, I was going to say that

I've been known to heave to in Kindred Spirit. Not all that often; I generally put the tiller pilot on and leave her to keep going while I do whatever. Most recent couple of examples were a mate trying to carve a ham in the cabin (thought I'd better give him a stable platform) and stopping for a pee when I was between the shore and a series of other vessels; putting her on either tack unattended would have been running into danger, so I stopped where we were.

It works better in long keel vessels like yours and mine; this might be part of the reason you rarely see it, as well as lack of need (autopilots, short Solent legs) and not really being familiar with the technique (though I expect most know how in theory).

Pete

 

[Frankie-H]

No, but I have been known to heave too, on occasions.............

Thats all to do with the rough weather and too much beer the night before.

 

[BlackPig]

I sail a traditional boat laying hoveto, standard practice. Longest I have is over night I arrived at the Mull of Kintyre wrong tide and as the sun went down f5-6. Hoveto went to bed, in the morning went through no problem.

Long keel helps.

 

[Frankie-H]

I have recently learned how to put Paean hove to and it seems to work really well. She sits bows just off the wind, settles down really nicely and only makes 0.2 knots over ground.

I have been using it quite a bit for reefing or bringing down the main, putting on fenders + warps etc. I have also used it as a way of sitting outside the main channel while a tanker came past etc. Seems like a really useful tactic.

Looking around, I don’t see anyone else doing it. Am I am missing something?

Now now Gentlemen. I think PhilM is right. He did not say he was going to hove to. He said that he was putting Paean hove to. Correct IMHO.

Now say sorry.

 

[Neil]

Since I mostly sail singlehanded, I find heaving-to is extremely useful in reefing and general fettling of the main. I was out on Sunday and making virtually no forward progress beating against light winds against a spring tide. Rather than put the motor on, I hove-to and got out my fishing rod, but just as I was about to wet a line, the boat spun round; I immediately looked to the rudder but it was still hard over, and then I realised the that the wind had suddenly changed direction through 180 degrees! So I trimmed sail accordingly and with the wind behind, made better progress against the tide.

I've seen one other boat hove-to, once.

Once I was out with Herself (first and penultimate time!) and children in fresh winds, so I hove-to and considered reefing. While idly talking and relaxing, a Mobo'er came over and asked anxiously if we were all right!

 

[Frankie-H]

Now now Gentlemen. I think PhilM is right. He did not say he was going to hove to. He said that he was putting Paean hove to. Correct IMHO.

Now say sorry.

Oh dear specsavers again I was not looking at the title of his thread.

Me Say Sorry.

 

[sighmoon]

I have done so on the current boat while sailing singlehanded and needing to wait for the tide. The boat sat happily enough for me to get an hour's sleep, but made 1kt over the ground.

 

[Boomshanka]

It was the only downside of having a self-tacking jib on my last boat... not being able to heave to (well... I could have gone forward and slid the locking thingy over on the track, but kind of defeated the object!)

 

[Frankie-H]

I lay hove to off the Royal Sovereign for a tide, waiting to get into Rye. My crew was so ill that he was found to have twisted a gut. It was beat into Newhaven, run up to Folkstone or Dover or wait for the water to come back to Rye. Lying hove to was the kindest and easiest option.

 

[Lakesailor]

Now now Gentlemen. I think PhilM is right. He did not say he was going to hove to. He said that he was putting Paean hove to. Correct IMHO.

Now say sorry.

Thread title is

Do you hove to?

which should be "do you heave to?"

In the body of the post he said hove to in the correct way.

So I think you should say sorry for asking others to say sorry.

 

[LePacha]

this might be part of the reason you rarely see it, as well as lack of need (autopilots, short Solent legs) and not really being familiar with the technique (though I expect most know how in theory).

Which is quite a shame actually as this would be the first thing I'd do in a MOB manoeuver. Most of the time, if you do it instantly, your boat will be only a few yards from the MOB, and you can send them a line.
Not even speaking about bad weather when you need to get some rest because sailing short handed...

 

[prr]

Is'nt it hoved to?.....

 

[Al Dickson]

It was the only downside of having a self-tacking jib on my last boat... not being able to heave to (well... I could have gone forward and slid the locking thingy over on the track, but kind of defeated the object!)

I have a self tacker too but don't have one a locking thingy for the track - can you buy them separately?

 

[Vara]

Yes, a useful tool to have in the armoury, makes for relaxed meals on longer passages.

 

[PhillM]

Ok, Ok I got the title and the wording wrong. Sorry

Nice to hear that others are using this (now unnamed) technique.

I like the MOB idea. I think I shall train my crew how to do it - just in case it’s me over the side.

I had suspected that most others were using an autopilot when shorthanded. It took me several goes to get (unnamed technique) right so I wonder what would happen if you were relying on the AP and it failed? Or is that me being a slow learner or pessimistic?

 

[LePacha]

I like the MOB idea. I think I shall train my crew how to do it - just in case it’s me over the side.

MOB is shouted. Heave to. Send the lines/help to buoyancy/coffee mug/whatever. If too far away from the MOB, then do the "regular" manoeuver. This will give you time to organize the crew, think about what needs to be done etc.

I had suspected that most others were using an autopilot when shorthanded. It took me several goes to get (unnamed technique) right so I wonder what would happen if you were relying on the AP and it failed? Or is that me being a slow learner or pessimistic?

Well I do whenever possible, but there are still a few boats here and there without an autopilot. And also these things are known to be not 100% reliable. Better being safe than sorry.

 

[Sybarite]

I have recently learned how to put Paean hove to and it seems to work really well. She sits bows just off the wind, settles down really nicely and only makes 0.2 knots over ground.

I have been using it quite a bit for reefing or bringing down the main, putting on fenders + warps etc. I have also used it as a way of sitting outside the main channel while a tanker came past etc. Seems like a really useful tactic.

Looking around, I don’t see anyone else doing it. Am I am missing something?

Yes: when

Taking a reef in
Dealing with fish caught.

 

[Boomshanka]

I have a self tacker too but don't have one a locking thingy for the track - can you buy them separately?

Not sure, maybe do a search on the make of your jib traveller. Mine were built in - lift a spring loaded pin and move the 'block' along the track and release pin back into holes in track. It was handy to be able to slide it over at the end the day to keep the jibsheet over to one side of the traveller. You might be able to rig a line and block to the toe rail instead? Also, most (all?) self tacking jibs are not overlapping and I doubted whether it would be possible to heave to without enough overlap on the main... never tried it though so can't really say for sure.