Genoa wrapped around forestay - How to sort?

[johnalison]

In breeze, you are correct to sheet in the main, bring it across but it seems like you kept it sheeted in. This has the risk, as you found out of causing you to spin out... I'd recommend completing the gybe with the main (ie out on the new side) , leaving the genoa alone but running dead down wind and goose winged. Once main gybed sucessfully, bear off and complete the gybe with the genoa too.

It seems that I am not the only one then. #9

I have somewhere a book by Uffa Fox, in which he describes how he was sailing aboat (wooden, pre-war) when he felt that the rig would not stand the stress of a controlled gybe, the boom being long and heavy. In extreme conditions, according to him, he decided that there was no option but to execute an uncontrolled gybe, but swing the boat round so fast that by the time the boom had crossed, the lee rigging would be out of its way. Like all UF's stories, he comes out smelling of roses.

 

[Crinan12]

Glad I read this post. I will tie stopper knots next year. Cheers

 

[dom]

IF the helm can keep the boat exactly downwind throughout the gybe that can work. This is what we do gybing a spinnaker, to keep it working in as clear air as possible until it's trimmed on the new side

That's certainly the received wisdom, “hold her dead downwind and keep the boat beneath the spinnaker while you jibe". But it is perversely terrible advice which leads to all sorts of trouble, especially with big powerful spis

The reason is this: dead downwind the air circulates quite randomly behind the main as the airflow flips from left to right. The problem is exacerbated in heavier weather as steering dead downwind causes additional roll which with the spi also unstable dramatically increases the chance of an uncontrolled broach.

Far better to turn more positively from broad reach to broad reach and the same applies without the spi. Pretty much the same applies to sailing with a main and genny combination.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

That's certainly the received wisdom, “hold her dead downwind and keep the boat beneath the spinnaker while you jibe". But it is perversely terrible advice which leads to all sorts of trouble, especially with big powerful spis

The reason is this: dead downwind the air circulates quite randomly behind the main as the airflow flips from left to right. The problem is exacerbated in heavier weather as steering dead downwind causes additional roll which with the spi also unstable dramatically increases the chance of an uncontrolled broach.

Far better to turn more positively from broad reach to broad reach and the same applies without the spi. Pretty much the same applies to sailing with a main and genny combination.

Exactly, which is why the second half of my reply said:-

The reality is that the helm is often having to do other stuff (as in this case). Without getting too technical about angles of attack and flow reversal; if you can reduce the amount of time that the main is in the middle to a minimum you make life easier.

 

[dom]

Exactly, which is why the second half of my reply said:-

No, it's not about the helm having other things to do, or reducing the time the mainsail is in the middle. In fact, sheeting in the main before a gybe isn't always a great idea.

The point is one doesn't want to be hanging around dead downwind, full stop, unless one is happy to manage the ensuing instabilities in a race situation. This applies no matter how good the helm is, or whatever once decides to do with the main.

In terms of the OP, if your wife is inexperienced, you might wish to consider gybing your way along downwind legs as opposed to keeping the wind dead astern. Moreover, a Westerly Konsort has a LWL of what, 25 feet? This equates to a theoretical hull speed of around 6.5kts. If one finds oneself pushing that envelope in addition to the airflow problems sailing dead downwind....

...well the best of us have screwed off the track trying that trick I once raced a big classic Swan - beautiful boat but terrifying downhill close to its boatspeed limit!

 

[Daydream believer]

Once you had the bag the easiest way to remove it would have been to "gybe" it out. You say that there was little room but most yachts will spin in a fairly tight circle if pushed & if you had turned the boat so you " unwound "the bag you could have quickly recovered some sheet & sorted it, You got the bag because you headed into the wind too much. It does not bag as drawn if the wind is aft. Put the wind direction onto your drawings & you will see what i mean
if you are not sure what i mean, take the boat out & put a deliberate bag in it & experiment manouvering the boat to loose the bag

 

[LadyInBed]

Just a note on stopper knots on sheets and halyards. I put mine far enough forward from the bitter end that I can a) reach the end and b) put a couple of turns around a winch to haul the line.