I Can't Sail, What Am I Doing Wrong?

[scoobert]

i guess i will just have to get out there and figure it out. the non-silor son said you cant drop the main in windy conditions, the manual says its better in wind. go figure.

[Dennis.G]

Originally Posted by scoobert

the non-silor son said you cant drop the main in windy conditions...

Now that is just plain nuts

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by Dennis.G

Now that is just plain nuts

we motorsailed for about 15min to get to a sheltered area so the wind died down, making the sail luff like crazy while he was trying to lower it and i held the boat on a heading.

[charliehows]

"batten the hatches, ye lubbers!!" well its good advice - not only do you stand to get a good dose of seawater downstairs but if you ever do get the jib up, every time you go about you'll have to go forward to free the jibsheet from being stuck on a hatch. As for your main - you've probably got a vang rope somewhere in that pile by the mast, you'll need to use that to pull the boom down and flatten that main once you've eased the toplift - then she might make some way...if you've bought the boat i reckon the highest priority in your things to learn list is "how to keep the engine working" - on a biggish boat the best way to learn how to handle it if you're a bit short of experience is - get the motor running so you can manage the boat with it when you need to then put some sails up and figure out how to sail it through trial and error. Should be fun, keep us posted...

[Dog and Bone]

All good advice above, just keep plugging away, mistakes are part of the learning, it will all come together in time and you will look back and laugh at the early days.

Good sailing

[eyschulman]

Scoobert in about three years you are going to be a hell of a sailor. Provided you survive all the problems you run head on into and learn from them. Can't tell you not to do it that was my method self taught sailor am I. Now after 50 years of of blundering about in all sorts of boats I feel comfortable sailing almost anything and single handed at that.

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by scoobert

oh, and why do you not sail with the hatches open? just the danger of falling thru while on deck?

i am just glad the boat has this.
what would i do without it?

I've had one of those out in my garage for the past 20 years. Not sure I know where in the garage it is anymore.

[bobconnie]

Gosh, I can remember buying one of them there Fancy Loran thingies!! I was so proud! No more aircraft stuff for me! Now I can sail in the fog !! and find my way !! LOL Just havein flashbacks folks sorry !!

[sailorchic34]

I'm surprised you got 4 knots out of it. Agree that the dutchman system needs to be adjusted as the top connections look too low, along with the luff line on the lower part of the main needs trimming. Plus loosen the topping lift and install and adjust the vang.

Adding some reefing lines might come in handy too.

Hope someone sounded that deck for bad core.