Puzzled by motorsailing techniques in Christchurch Bay.
- Thread starter alant
- Start date
Angele
Well-Known Member
Ah! No. Unlikely.
Not knowing which way the wind was blowing, I got a bit lost in your OP as to whether the "several" boats were the ones going to windward or sailing downwind. Having reread it, I now see what you were saying.
alant
Well-Known Member
Wind was right on their nose.
GrahamD
Well-Known Member
I don't see the problem here. These sailors were out on their boats, choosing the combination of sail and motor that most suited them on that course in the conditions. The implication that this is bad seamanship or lazy sailing is a nonsense.
Why should anyone standing on the cliffs have any valid opinion unless the sailors' actions were either putting themselves or others into danger, in which case the onlooker could have a vital role.
For what it's worth, I will motorsail at times with main only or at other times genoa only, or a combination of both. At other times I will enjoy a full blooded beat across the bay. It's really up to me and how I feel, who I've got on the crew, how my boat is handling the sea and what I want to do.
And no, I wasn't one of the boats on the day in question, but when I next go across Christchurch Bay, I'll give you a wave and wish you a pleasant walk.
Why should anyone standing on the cliffs have any valid opinion unless the sailors' actions were either putting themselves or others into danger, in which case the onlooker could have a vital role.
For what it's worth, I will motorsail at times with main only or at other times genoa only, or a combination of both. At other times I will enjoy a full blooded beat across the bay. It's really up to me and how I feel, who I've got on the crew, how my boat is handling the sea and what I want to do.
And no, I wasn't one of the boats on the day in question, but when I next go across Christchurch Bay, I'll give you a wave and wish you a pleasant walk.
Quandary
Well-Known Member
I have been guilty as charged of all those infractions this year, though I admit I was not aware that it was going to cause upset to any spectators.
In defence I would offer-
1 The wind this year has been unusual in its gentleness
2 I am a lazy b. who just does what suits me at the time.
3 The third member of our crew is elderly, infirm and has lost his agility so we tend to pander to him; anyway, the vet. says he will not be around for much longer.
In defence I would offer-
1 The wind this year has been unusual in its gentleness
2 I am a lazy b. who just does what suits me at the time.
3 The third member of our crew is elderly, infirm and has lost his agility so we tend to pander to him; anyway, the vet. says he will not be around for much longer.
grumpy_o_g
Well-Known Member
Motoring into a F4 on the nose the last thing I'd want is a mainsail flapping like mad and a boom rattling and swinging around just over my head, especially as all it would be doing is creating extra windage to slow me down - the noise alone would drive me round the bend. I might leave a foresail up (to cut down rolling) as that's further away from me. If the wind is truly on the nose though all any sail will do is give some extra windage to help be blown backwards.
Seven Spades
Well-Known Member
With my old boat (starlight 39) sailing down wind we always had the main up. The boat was simply brilliant down wind. I also loved using a preventer and polling out the genoa a beautiful secure way of sailing and the autopilot seemed to love it.
Seajet
...
Unless one is a complete numpty, halliard shackles will be captive keypin jobs on hard eyes, so no chance of losing them over the side, or that as an excuse for not using the main when one is supposed to be sailing to windward.
Off the wind,using gybing legs on broad reaches seems best, but nearer straight downwind goosewinged is OK as long as the Windex / reliable instruments / wool telltales on the shrouds are kept pointing towards flow into the main - which is actually sheeted IN a bit so as to direct airflow onto the foresail; this is close to an accidental gybe so attention is required, maybe after a while if the trip distance allows pole out the chute.
Off the wind,using gybing legs on broad reaches seems best, but nearer straight downwind goosewinged is OK as long as the Windex / reliable instruments / wool telltales on the shrouds are kept pointing towards flow into the main - which is actually sheeted IN a bit so as to direct airflow onto the foresail; this is close to an accidental gybe so attention is required, maybe after a while if the trip distance allows pole out the chute.
alant
Well-Known Member
So, you motorsail directly into wind with a headsail up then?
I'll wave back, watching you getting your rig beaten up.
GrahamD
Well-Known Member
I look forward to our mutual salutes across the water.
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
Interesting as we’ve just had a few weeks on board and sailed a fair few miles without tacking once. We did gybe downwind a few times (keeping wind in the Genoa with the main up). We also sailed a tiny bit under Genoa only.
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Iliade
Well-Known Member
I understand that the state known locally as 'Summer' may have been occurring at the time? If so, perhaps the mainsails were stowed to prevent their casting a shadow over part of the cockpit and thereby causing less sailing-orientated crew to freeze?
An idea: Fit a bimini over the cockpit, then some electric patio heaters and a few UV lamps beneath...
An idea: Fit a bimini over the cockpit, then some electric patio heaters and a few UV lamps beneath...
BelleSerene
Well-Known Member
The 'slot effect' was an incorrect hypothesis about how two overlapping sails work. It was debunked almost fifty years ago. Which doesn’t stop it being shown in lots of sailing books written by people who may be practically great sailors, but don’t understand why it works.
RichardS
N/A
AngusMcDoon
Well-Known Member
Here you go, published in 1973 in Sail magazine...
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&s...f-magazines/4-Another-Look-at-Slot-Effect.pdf
Two sails slows down the wind velocity in-between the sails, so the Venturi effect is a myth.
AngusMcDoon
Well-Known Member
Nope, don't have any of them, so I'm a complete numpty. Plain old shackle on headsail halyard & snap shackles on asymmetric & main seem to work for me.
I reckon this counts as another instance of Andrew's rule... if it's not on his boat, is his boat, or invented since 1978, it's pants - or in this case - you're a complete numpty.
Iliade
Well-Known Member
Halliard shackles? I didn't realise that anyone still used them, except perhaps for the kite or for those racy types who still have nine headsails...
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
Andy,I do not get the "supposed" bit. It seems that you are suggesting that one MUST sail. However, if one chooses to motor i see nothing wrong in that. Just because one has a yacht it does not mean that with a modern diesel one cannot start the engine, engage autopilot, and enjoy the trip as a pleasant motor up wind rather than a thrash sitting on ones's ear with the decks awash.
obviously one might not do this all the time but there are instances where it may be infinitely preferable and in my book there is nothing wrong in using the engine for a bit of lazy propulsion. Of course my engine is quiet and does not belch great clouds of black fumes down my nostrils. If the engine is there then why not use it to ones advantage
claymore
Well-Known Member
Teko
Well-Known Member
Walking the dog on Gilkicker this morning while it was blowing a good 4/5 from the west most of the boats I observed heading towards Portsmouth were under headsail alone downwind obviously