Novice Gaffer

[mormargh]

A strange thing happened on the way to Fowey. Wind was from the NW Force 4ish. We are tramping along close hauled on starboard at a respectable pace although keeping the boat in the groove was challenging. We make good a course of around 260. Due South of Fowey, we tack, sheet the sails in the same fashion on port tack and suddenly everything goes to pot. I get a ton of what feels like lee helm, and can't sail close hauled at all. Best I could do was 020 but without enough oomph to get through the waves!

Can anyone proffer me some advice?

[Or, if there is anyone likely to be in the Fowey/Fal area middle of next week who wouldn't mind hopping aboard for a few hours to show me how it is supposed to work, please send a PM]

 

[Blueboatman]

What was the tide doing?

 

[mormargh]

Not a great deal - pretty much dead neaps so max drift would have been under 0.5kts. At the time we tacked it was approaching local HW so if anything I would guess there was a slight onshore set in our favour, but negligible really.

 

[Blueboatman]

(Maybe) the 0.5 knots tide set was still to the east rather than toward the shore-unless you were very close south of Fowey entrance(in which case a nw wind is going to be pretty dirty cos of the cliffs of course)..so if you were making 2-3knots through the water on020,your true course over the ground(COG)is going to be significantly less close winded,innit,
I am intrigued,what say others more experienced ?..

 

[mormargh]

Errr...terminology error this end - the courses mentioned are compass courses.