dom
Well-Known Member
Yes I'm afraid "luffing the puffs" is out these days, "checking your seacocks" plainly illegal. ...and that every helpful Dutch child must keep his finger to himself should his town's dyke spring a leak.
Luff the "puffs" - what does it mean?
- Thread starter The Third Man
- Start date
Yes I'm afraid "luffing the puffs" is out these days, "checking your seacocks" plainly illegal. ...and that every helpful Dutch child must keep his finger to himself should his town's dyke spring a leak.
horatio_nelson
Well-Known Member
Fair enough
but I really doubt it would be in any way noticeable, certainly not to mostjwilson
Well-Known Member
Yes it is, reasonably good advice if going to windward and the "puff" is enough to overpower you, luffing spills some wind whilst keeping you going to windward even closer and at a similar speed as before, without messing about with sheeting.
On a reaching course the opposite applies: you will get from A to B significantly faster if you luff and sheet in in the light bits (keeping apparent wind stronger) and sheet out and bear away and generate more boatspeed in the "puffs".
All this assumes monohulls. Cats are different.
westernman
Well-Known Member
Same applies in cats - particularly when flying the gennaker. The trick when downwind in the gusts is to bear away enough to put the hulls back under the rig, but not to quickly or you risk burrying the leeward hull in the back of a wave and doing a pitchpole (i.e. ass over tit).
The Third Man
Well-Known Member
Well I got more than I expected there! Thanks for some interesting stuff. I think I lack the analytical skills to scrutinise the more scientific answers but I will not let that stop me from trying. Meanwhile I will carry on as before which is as I was taught many years ago.
johnalison
Well-Known Member
What matters in most conditions is boat speed through the water. My experience has been that my boat will sail closer to the wind with increasing wind, except in completely smooth water.in stronger winds I can flatten both jib and main and have enough power to drive through the stopping effect of the waves. When hit by a gust, I can therefore take advantage of this and luff up appropriately. The problem for the inexperienced is when the wind eases and the boat is slowed by a wave, when the apparent wind may actually move aft, tempting a beginner to luff up further, stalling the keel. It is necessary for the helmsman to hold the whole situation in mind, boat speed, wind direction and strength, to maintain an efficient course.
If overpressed by a gust, as mentioned above, the important thing is to keep up boat speed, to maintain control. Winding in the sheets hard and pinching up can be a better option than letting sails flap and setting up a lot of drag.
If overpressed by a gust, as mentioned above, the important thing is to keep up boat speed, to maintain control. Winding in the sheets hard and pinching up can be a better option than letting sails flap and setting up a lot of drag.
jwilson
Well-Known Member
Agreed entirely, but with some beach/dinghy cats you can also capsize by luffing in a gust if already a bit overpressed to windward - the increased apparent wind plus centrifugal force of the mast weight in the turn can push you over the edge. In these circs easing the sheet/traveller and/or bearing away is the only option.
jimi
Well-Known Member
Another effect apparent in dingies when beating or close reaching is the effect on apparent wind higher up the mast through the heeling action, asthe boat heels the wind frees as it whips upright it heads. Wave action also has the effect of causing mast action hence if hard on wind when fully heeled, drive will be lost when the mast transfers to the upright position and vice versa.... As I understand it.....
D
Deleted member 36384
Guest
And larger sailing boats too.
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
Fair enough
Actually very noticeable, if you're keen to get to the windward mark.
Less easy to spot the breeze backing as the gust tails off.
Quite sad that it takes 11 replies before the correct answer appears. You need to sail a dinghy or race a yacht to discover this from experience.
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
AND, in the N Hemisphere, any gust is likely to be a veer. Thus take it happily if you're going upwind on starboard tack (you are being lifted), but tack onto starboard if you're on port, else you'll be headed.
