Goosewinging - what tack is he on?

[[2574]]

Does the "tack" of a boat always follow the position of the boom regardless of the position of the foresail? So a boat goosewinging with the main to port is on starboard tack?

 

[jimi]

Yup.

 

[DJE]

So what tack are you on when flying twin headsails?

 

[ParaHandy]

jawohl ...

 

[jimi]

As I understand it, if there is no Main then the tack you are on is judged by the position of the largest headsail instead

 

[Lakesailor]

If you're goosewinged you aren't on a tack surely.
You're running before the wind.

 

[[2574]]

Fair point; but I was asking from a ColRegs perspective - which is the stand on boat in such circumstances.

 

[Lakesailor]

Got me there.

 

[Deleted member 478]

I am guessing here. If you are goosewinged and only have one pole out surely you are on a starboard tack if the pole is to starboard?

 

[aitchw]

Nah, Jimi's definition is right, it's determined by the position of the boom even if you are sailing by the lee.

 

[l'escargot]

[ QUOTE ]
Fair point; but I was asking from a ColRegs perspective - which is the stand on boat in such circumstances.

[/ QUOTE ]

Leeward boat? Windward or overtaking boat gives way?

 

[Lakesailor]

[ QUOTE ]


Leeward boat? Windward or overtaking boat gives way?

[/ QUOTE ]

That sounds right if both boats on same tack (boom out to same side)
If the leeward boat has the boom out to starboard (port tack) and the goosewinged boat is to windward and has the boom out to starboard presumably the opposite tack rule applies, even though he's not really on a tack but has merely chosen to goosewing with the boom to port (starboard tack) to afford himself the security of being a stand-on boat.

Tricky isn't it?

I would tend to give way early so that there is no misunderstanding.

 

[snowleopard]

Colregs say that a running boat must be assumed to be on starboard if it's not possible to see what tack she's on. The rule was designed to cover a spinnaker hiding the main but also applies here.

 

[Salty John]

I agree with snowleopard - if you cannot identify which tack another vessel is on you are obliged to assume he is on starboard. If you are also on starboard the windward/leeward rule applies. The position of the boom when not carrying sail has no influence;it can't be used to claim starboard tack.

 

[ashanta]

goose winging is with main and one foresail. Your tack is determined by the main. Two foresails out and no main is not goosewinging imho but a derived method of sailing used by long distance sailors crossing the atlantic.

Regards.

Peter.

 

[snowleopard]

Carefull about playing the definition game. The original meaning of goosewinging is to haul up the bunt of a square sail and allow only the clews to draw. Modern usage is a corruption of that and doesn't necessarily have only one specific meaning.

 

[ghost]

rig your sailless boom with preventors in a stbd. tack pos. call for water and wave a hammer

 

[gandy]

[ QUOTE ]
goose winging is with main and one foresail. Your tack is determined by the main.
...
Peter.

[/ QUOTE ]

Does this also apply if the "main" is smaller than the genoa? I've seen the wording, but its not clear whether they mean "main" as in "the biggest" sail.

Tony S

 

[Cobra25]

Jamaican Col Regs apply: De bigger boat (or de one that is going to run into you) has de right of way.

It is assumed he cannot see you and YOU keep out of his way. Reasonable and simple!

 

[Evadne]

Little boats give way to big boats!

I've always called that "rule zero", taught me when racing dinghies among the keelboats.