wife doesn't like it when boat leans over!

Re: wife doesn\'t like it when boat leans over!

Totally agree. Assuming the skipper has the nouse to lift (or partially lift) the dagger boards when things get rough. My main objection to them for a cruising boat is the space they take up.
 
Re: My ex loved dinghys ...

[ QUOTE ]

Incidentally, has there been any work done on the "rate-of-change-of-heel-angle" as a factor in getting scared?

As it was so beamy, we ended up a fair way above the water when heeled.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think we're getting there on this. I mentioned that "It's not so much the angle of the heel, it's the transition in a gust." and that seems to be the point at which we get the "oooohhhhh!s".
This has nothing to do with bravado or being unsympathetic. If you sail on the lakes strong gusts are a fact of life.
I also agree with the axis of rotation concept. Our little tub rolls about it's central axis but if you watch the Bennies etc they lift the windward quarter way out of the water. Apart from anything else I always find it awkward looking as the stem stays where it is and the stern lifts up, looking as though it's going to dive under water.
It may be dynamically efficient, but part of sailing is to do with grace, isn't it?
 
But isn\'t that agreeing ???

She maintained that being nearer the water she felt safer ....

I have to say that many modern boats with their wide beam / volume hulls - I am not so keen when I find myself so high up and out of water ... and having short legs - often find it extremely hard to brace ... older slimmer boats with older style cockpits - I can brace more easier - plus I am not so high above water when she heels.

I would regularly wash windows with my Alacrity and then the Snapdragon ... OK - had a few moments of "panic" when you think she's going over ... but generally felt that adrenaline rush and enjoyed it. The boat I have now rounds up if you press her too hard over ... so washing windows is difficult.

Having sailed many more modern craft - I can honestly say I am not too keen on the initial tendency to heel easily and stiffening up as they go further ... probably due to the great volume above water that is then being pushed over ......

It is great to have all that volume and beam in harbour for the comfort aspect .... but trades off when pressing on the wind.

Back to Ex ... she was adamant that a dinghy she felt safe as she was closer to the water ... and I think the post highlighting the height above water that bigger boats put you when heeled is a point not often considered ...
 
Re: wife doesn\'t like it when boat leans over!

I have exactly the same problem.

My wife and I sailed together for years in a dinghy - Ents, Larks, Laser 2 even and went out in all weathers. Top notch crew and enjoyed it (or so she told me).

Children and work meant no boat for a while, and we have now got a yacht with my parents. She doesn't like it when it tips over. Rather than take her out and get soaked etc we just don't go out in windy weather (although she helped me motor in betwen marinas in a five recently). My tactic is to encourage her to write about her experiences (see the link below!).

Its a very difficult subject, and I was furious when I saw the article in YBW about the non-sailing spouse. The message was all wrong, taking a novice out in 40 knots I think it was.

My wife took a different view, and she wrote in to the mag. Won the star prize!

We will see how we get on.

I expect no help with the antifouling though...

John
 
Re: wife doesn\'t like it when boat leans over!

I was very luck with my ex, she was initially very nervous on boats. Not even a question of "its heeling too much", but she wouldn't leave the cockpit for anything. Patience is the key - build up confidence. At one point I remember spinning the boat through 360's without trimming the sails (she was expecting it), just to prove that nothing would happen - just a lot of noise which hurt nobody. It seemed to work. To me it is a question of building confidence in the boat and also in yourself being capable as well.

Regards, Jeff.
 
Re: wife doesn\'t like it when boat leans over!

[ QUOTE ]
catamarans with daggerboards are less safe than those with LAR keels./quote]
As you well know the ability to sail with the windward keel only does help to solve the tripping issue, however if you are single handing and in a blow, the ability to raise and lower two daggerboards, as well as sheet in main and genoa is just too much work.

If you study the shape of a LARS you will see that as a hull rises up, the leeward lars becomes hidden behind the hull shape, and thus prevents the lars from causing a trip, whereas the much deeper daggerboard is still gripping the water.

The daggerboard option defionitely has performance benefits on a small light cat like the strida, but tests on much larger cruising boats (with emphasis on cruising rather than performance) have shown minimal advantage in performance,
 
Re: wife doesn\'t like it when boat leans over!

You could try chartering my brand new Lagoon 380 S2 Catamaran. My wife had the same problem on our old Jaguar 25, but now she is happy on this Cat. We do not have the MCA safety coding yet, but we will soon I hope.
Please feel free to email me on adam@europeanyachtcharters.com
- I hope it is allowed for me to plug my own business ? ?
 
Re: My ex loved dinghys ...

Well, Tricia has sailed with me in the Albacore and loved it on quiet days but it was the instantaneous response of the boat to a gust that she found unnerving especially being so close to the water. The higher freeboard and movement dampened by the ballst are the main factors behind her greater confidence in the little cruiser. Those together with being able to get up and stretch her legs, move around a bit and have a coffee whilst sailing also helps.

It is not like the motion you describe with AWBs which I think she would find disconcerting.
 
Re: My ex loved dinghys ...

First swmbo didn't enjoy sailing in our Mirror until she eventually decided to try helming. Then realised she actually liked this sailing lark. Probably the need for being in control which did it - which is also probably why she is now ex-swmbo.

By the time swmbo2 came along I had graduated to a yacht, and she has never sailed dinghies - wopuldn't go near one. She has been reading this thread over my shoulder with some surprise, as she loves it when the boat heels, loves sailing in every way in fact.

Giving a timid sailor of any gender the helm and a sheet in the hand is surely the best way to give them confidence - any amount of theory will not make up for the feeling of actually being in control.
 
Re: My ex loved dinghys ...

Oh <span style="color:black">bu</span><span style="color:black">gger</span>. She'll probably want to helm and then get to like being in control and then...........
 
But think of the free two hands ...

One with finger slipping under that ring, second holding the can ...... PSsssssT .... as the ring pulls up and the heady aroma of Full body ale escapes ....

Yep - luv it .... sit back and enjoy the beer while she enjoys actually doing something other than bacon butties on the boat or just handing a bow-line !!!
 
Re: But think of the free two hands ...

I was alluding to the [ QUOTE ]
Probably the need for being in control which did it - which is also probably why she is now ex-swmbo.

[/ QUOTE ] which came in the next sentence. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
Re: wife doesn\'t like it when boat leans over!

Most of the previous posts on this subject have been full of the "get another SWMBO or leave her behind" type. This one is full of useful advice. By the way, I have really enjoyed Sea-Dreamer's wife's web-blog. It's strongly recommended for all sailing and non-sailing partners!

I am not too keen on excessive tippyness myself, but I enjoy sailing. I actually found experience of dinghy sailing unhelpful in that regard - usually in a dinghy when you suddenly hit a gust and heel by 30 degrees, it's the first stage in a capsize. And in a bigger boat, just 10 degrees, which you'd ignore in a dinghy, feels very tipped. I always sit on the windward side - you don't make that much difference in a 5 ton boat, but the dinghy experience makes me feel that i'm doing my bit.

I agree with needing to be more in control, though first taking the tiller in a blow may be quite worrying in itself.

Don't know about the physics - I mean that I understand it, in quite thorough detail - but it does not affect the feelings.

We have an arrangement - if either of us suggests reefing - there's no macho argument, we just do it. Recently, I'm often not the one who mentions it first!

The exhilaration only comes in when you are feeling in control (or that you've surrendered control willingly) - I think that's where the differences arise between the keen sailors and their nervous partners.

Then there's the trust bit. If I trust the skipper, I'm more willing to allow him/her to exceed my comfort zone, and push the boat harder (or drive faster or whatever.) Most of the posters have a confident skipper, nervous crew set-up. Maybe try a sail or two with a (different) trusted skipper or instructor, in order to build up a sort of shared responsibility arrangement, so that the nervous crew feels that she (or he) has the expertise to cope with any likely problems, and doesn't have to rely on the (questionable) experience of the skipper.

Good luck.

Ali
 
Re: wife doesn\'t like it when boat leans over!

My wife will not even go on a yacht because they lean- we have had to buy a motorboat for our own seafaring and I charter or crew once or twice a year to keep my raggie skills up.
 
Re: wife doesn\'t like it when boat leans over!

A few points from personal experience.

With people new to sailing I show them boats on the hard and point out weight of keel is same as two cars etc and that boats are mean to lean and it seems to help.

Unfortunately my SWMBO helms our dinghy when racing and KNOWS it must be sailed fastest when upright. Her instinct is to spill wind to keep fast and upright.

At first I paid a sailing school to try and help. Instructor said the obvious to wife and that he knew what he was doing, have confidence in him & the boat then proceeded to heel the boat over. Wife finally disappeared into cabin in tears and refused to be on deck for rest of weekend.

Many AWB's go better more upright and while I havn't done exhaustive trials I have passed a number of wildly heeled boats by sailing faster reefed.

In our case I find it best to reef early and at the start of each sailing holiday not to push it. Wife gains confidence and lets boat heel more towards the end of 2 weeks than at the start but the reality is that I don't think she will ever enjoy excessive heeling so I try to sail within her comfort zone. My cousin didn't with his wife and now can only own a motor boat!! You have been warned.
 
Re: wife doesn\'t like it when boat leans over!

Ah Steve - yes he 'sorted me out'. Can thoroughly recommend him and his boat Chewsy which is Most Comfortable - your friend is in very good hands and I have been back a couple of times to him.

Two years ago I was unwilling and very unable, however hard I tried. Admittedly heeling never troubled me, but I felt totally unable to participate and add anything as crew. Good training on- and offshore really helps - now I own a 31' Moody which I intend to take to the Med or the Canaries via Biscay next year.

My advice to all women is to learn as much as His Nibbs, otherwise you risk being subjected to being told what to do constantly and hold warps decoratively. It's a recipe for resentment.
 
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