Searush
Well-Known Member
Dylan sails a keel boat - so it ain't going to fall over. You are loooking at a dinghy which can (and will if not used properly). As a novice, you will not be aware of the risks of turning with inappropriate sail settings. As Lakey says, turning downwind (gibeing) can hurt you and the boat, but having the sails too hard in can also cause problems, a simple rule is to let the sails out until they flap & them pull them in until they are nice & full & just not fluttering at the front top edge (the luff).
Get a Ladybird book of sailing from the library & read it carefully. Then try it on a nice safe lake. When things go wrong (and they will) figure it out & try again. You will need a bouancy aid & read the chapter on righting a capsized boat first! Dylan's general guide is still a good one, just be aware that the consequence of a mistake is likely to be a sore head (from the bomm hitting you) or a swim.
Another simple tip is to get a kid's model pond yacht & watch how that sails on & off the wind according to how you set the sails.
Edit; Just been reading your earlier posts, shallow bits are generally to be avoided, you will break shear pins when the prop hits bottom & you cannot sail anywhere except downwind without the centreboard down & that will need at least 4-5' of water. Also a capsize in less than 15' could easily break your mast
Get a Ladybird book of sailing from the library & read it carefully. Then try it on a nice safe lake. When things go wrong (and they will) figure it out & try again. You will need a bouancy aid & read the chapter on righting a capsized boat first! Dylan's general guide is still a good one, just be aware that the consequence of a mistake is likely to be a sore head (from the bomm hitting you) or a swim.
Another simple tip is to get a kid's model pond yacht & watch how that sails on & off the wind according to how you set the sails.
Edit; Just been reading your earlier posts, shallow bits are generally to be avoided, you will break shear pins when the prop hits bottom & you cannot sail anywhere except downwind without the centreboard down & that will need at least 4-5' of water. Also a capsize in less than 15' could easily break your mast
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