fireball
Well-Known Member
any pointers?
Helming Technique
- Thread starter fireball
- Start date
TheBoatman
Well-Known Member
Oh What!!
Classic 10 to two steering position ~ head down watching compass ~ result very wobbly course ~ sea sick crew?
Helm in head down position ~ what about the Colregs i.e. all round look out?
Is this a "troll"???? OR a snap shot of a skipper checking his course?
Peter.
Classic 10 to two steering position ~ head down watching compass ~ result very wobbly course ~ sea sick crew?
Helm in head down position ~ what about the Colregs i.e. all round look out?
Is this a "troll"???? OR a snap shot of a skipper checking his course?
Peter.
fireball
Well-Known Member
watch the rest of the video?!
photodog
Lord High Commander of Upper Broughton and Gunthor
Its that goofy hat thats the problem.
gardenshed
Well-Known Member
Pick a point far in front of the boat (cloud/coastal feature) and either steer towards it or steer to keep it in the same position relative to the boat. Only look down at the compass/chart plotter once a minute (or less) to check that you are staying on course. You guide a boat along its course, you don't rigidly drive it down a pre determined path.
When you start helming, you react to each move that the boat makes. As you get more experience, you anticipate how the boat will move and steer (with smaller inputs) to counter what you expect to happen. This "feel" is what you quickly recognise is the skill of a good helm.
The guy videoed is either taking the piss, or is quite inexperienced and the 10 to 2 car-steering approach isn't going to make it easy to feel and react to the changing pressure on the wheel.
stand up, or sit to one side as a start, and dont' look at the boat look ahead & guide it to where tou want to be
At least he looks like he is enjoying himself
When you start helming, you react to each move that the boat makes. As you get more experience, you anticipate how the boat will move and steer (with smaller inputs) to counter what you expect to happen. This "feel" is what you quickly recognise is the skill of a good helm.
The guy videoed is either taking the piss, or is quite inexperienced and the 10 to 2 car-steering approach isn't going to make it easy to feel and react to the changing pressure on the wheel.
stand up, or sit to one side as a start, and dont' look at the boat look ahead & guide it to where tou want to be
At least he looks like he is enjoying himself
fireball
Well-Known Member
He certainly was .... and his course keeping was as good as mine! But he did pip me on the top speed ... which isn't strictly allowed .... but I'll let him off ....
Pete7
Well-Known Member
Father Christmas normally arrives by sled doesn't he 
Pete
Pete
fireball
Well-Known Member
Father Christmas normally arrives by sled doesn't he
Pete
You're gonna be in soooooo much trouble now ....
Pete7
Well-Known Member
just as well I didn't suggest that Father Christmas has been buying up surplus Bavs for Xmas presents then 
However a new Bav 34 would fit very nicely on our mooring, if you could put a good word in for us.Pete
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srm
Well-Known Member
Must be a bit difficult to see where he is going with that big white box in his line of sight, does it serve any useful purpose?
Personally, I would engage my Monitor steering gear so as not to be tied down in one part of the boat.
Personally, I would engage my Monitor steering gear so as not to be tied down in one part of the boat.
KenMcCulloch
Well-Known Member
I thought he wasn't doing too badly myself, maybe should look at the sails and the ship's head a bit more, the compass/wind instruments a bit less but given the sea state he is sailing a reasonably consistent course judging by the clouds astern. Possibly could improve anticipation of the need to bear away in response to the following sea. So far as the lookout issue is concerned, I think that in a well crewed boat I would expect the helm to concentrate on helming, and others to be detailed as lookouts.
jhr
Well-Known Member
From his expression (and my advanced skills in reading body language) I reckon he's (a) wondering if he shouldn't try a catamaran instead and (b) wishing he was on an Elling.
But what do I know?
But what do I know?
fireball
Well-Known Member
Apparently he was wearing shorts and t-shirt .... under the wet gear! The wetgear was just keeping the wind off though. 
We were doing just sub Elling speed - so with the exception of being outside it wasn't too dissimilar .... well - thats what I tell myself anyhow!
We were doing just sub Elling speed - so with the exception of being outside it wasn't too dissimilar .... well - thats what I tell myself anyhow!
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fireball
Well-Known Member
So you're monitor self steering is better at holding a course than you ... hmm - perhaps you should get some more practice in then!!
fireball
Well-Known Member
It may have been a bit easier for him if the skipper had reefed to a more sensible sail plan - but we were enjoying the speed!!
jimi
Well-Known Member
He's not doing too bad considering he looks as if he's a bit constipated and having to work hard in that direction.
Bav34
...
For heavens sake don't mention what it was ... the septics will be tutt-tutting and getting out their slide rules and LWL tables.
I know ... I've been there
srm
Well-Known Member
So you're monitor self steering is better at holding a course than you ... hmm - perhaps you should get some more practice in then!!
Of course it is, what human helmsman can steer none stop 24/7 ? It also lets me rest, navigate, trim sails, and make tea, all without it complaining about the cold and wet of a British summer. Going to windward it is probably better than any human helm after the first hour of their watch.
It would appear that you may need a bit more sailing practice to appreciate such aids.
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
He's not wearing a harness line. Think I would if the boat were travelling fast and I was leaning back on one bit of bought-from-the-lowest-bidder wire.
TheBoatman
Well-Known Member
What video?
