Tacking angle

LadyInBed

Well-known member
Joined
2 Sep 2001
Messages
15,224
Location
Me - Zumerzet Boat - Wareham
montymariner.co.uk
What apparent wind angle does your boat tack through?
I manage 105º - Bilge keel Masthead rig Ketch


<hr width=100% size=1>
ladybug_zigzag_md_wht.gif
 

charles_reed

Active member
Joined
29 Jun 2001
Messages
10,413
Location
Home Shropshire 6/12; boat Greece 6/12
Visit site
Apparent wind has nothing to do with it - which is one of the reasons it's an accurate measure.

In smooth water with the solent minimum tacking angle is about 70 degrees, this deteriorates to 90 with an overlapping foresail.
Far better to sail free and get some speed up.
This is using the GPS as the calibration, using the compass doesn't allow for leeway, which can be considerable on some boats.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 

boatless

New member
Joined
1 Mar 2004
Messages
1,130
Visit site
Charles..

Can you explain what you mean by Apparent wind being irrelevant?

John

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.
 

starboard

Active member
Joined
22 Dec 2003
Messages
3,016
Location
N5533 W00441
Visit site
Do not worry how close to the wind you can sail...so many people make that mistake and end up pinching...slowing down...and eventually going nowhere, especially in a little chop.....dont worry!!! sail a little more off the wind and go for speed, in the long run it will pay off!!

<hr width=100% size=1>
 

ChrisE

Active member
Joined
13 Nov 2003
Messages
7,343
Location
Kington
www.simpleisgood.com
Re: Using the GPS as the calibration

From memory doesn't the Autotack just take the craft through 100 degrees regardless of the craft it is fitted to? We have a ST4000 and use Autotack when short handed usually have to bring the boat up a bit after the tack is done.

I'd agree with everyone else about keeping boat as free as poss, although with IOR cheating boats like mine it pays to keep a fair degree of heel to up the LWL.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 

snowleopard

Active member
Joined
16 May 2001
Messages
33,645
Location
Oxford
Visit site
autotack

on autohelms the factory default is 100 deg but you can alter it yourself. of course its true degrees, not apparent wind. if you tacked through 105 deg apparent you'd be pushed to make any progress to windward at all!

<hr width=100% size=1>
 

starboard

Active member
Joined
22 Dec 2003
Messages
3,016
Location
N5533 W00441
Visit site
Guess not but so many other factors could be affecting your ability to point. I would imagine an old Colvic bilge keeler even with a perfect rig and good sails is not going to get much better than 50degrees to the wind....think speed and not close windedness!!!!!

<hr width=100% size=1>
 

Rowana

Two steps lower than the ships' cat
Joined
17 Apr 2002
Messages
6,132
Location
NE Scotland
Visit site
I usually find that I make a few inadvertant tacks when leaving the bar. I have heard the expression "3 sheets to the wind" mentioned, but I can never understand where the third one is used - Port, Starboard & {what}

Is my education incomplete?

<hr width=100% size=1>
 

Twister_Ken

Well-known member
Joined
31 May 2001
Messages
27,584
Location
'ang on a mo, I'll just take some bearings
Visit site
3 sheets

It refers (I think) to vessels being taken aback so that the sheets rather than being to leeward are to windward. But whether it refers to a three masted vessel or three sails on a single mast I've no idea.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>
 

Mirelle

N/A
Joined
30 Nov 2002
Messages
4,531
Visit site
I reckon about 110 to really make progress - conventional gaff cutter. She will pinch up more but she does'nt really like it.

<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?
 

LadyInBed

Well-known member
Joined
2 Sep 2001
Messages
15,224
Location
Me - Zumerzet Boat - Wareham
montymariner.co.uk
Re: autotack

Sorry, forget the apparent bit I'm confusing myself and everyone else!
Don’t get me wrong about pointing higher, I’ve no wish to, it is just a general enquiry as to what other boats normally tack through.
As you said, the default autotack setting was 100º but that was too tight for me.

<hr width=100% size=1>
ladybug_zigzag_md_wht.gif
 

Cornishman

New member
Joined
29 Jul 2002
Messages
6,402
Location
Cornwall
Visit site
Re: 3 sheets

Three Sheets? Now there's a good pint. Try one next time you are in the vicinity of Saltash Sailing Club

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Top