Active vs. Passive helm?

[MarkJ]

I disagree with Dave.

IMH racing Opinion: opposite to a lift is a knock. Being headed may occur, or be the effect, but is from the knock.





Mark

[StuM]

I'm with MarkJ.

[goboatingnow]

maybe its a an "down under thing",

have a look here Glossary of nautical terms - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"knock" yourself out looking for "knock", then look at the entry marked "header"

Ive never heard the term "knock" being used in that content. If the winds changes the boat is "headed", hence the crew are always shouting "header" coming or "lift coming" to the trimmer and helm.

i suspect knock is either slang, or developed from lack of nautical knowledge and has entered some common usage
Dave

[StuM]

Wikipedia eh? So if it's not there, it must be slang or "lack or nautical knowledge"?

It's the standard usage in racing circles in this part of the world, and we do have a bit of "nautical knowledge" in the southern hemisphere, believe it or not.

First reference I looked at:
October 2012 eNews AUS News
...

• Tack on the knocks, sail on the shifts - upwind - lifted is the tack that, all things being equal, should take you closest to the mark.
• Gybe on the lifts, stay on the knocks - downwind - double-handed boats. Knock is the tack that, all things being equal, should take you closest to the mark.
  ...
  
• Don’t fall off too quick in a velocity knock - when the wind dies, the apparent wind will go forward and will feel like a knock, it is not, it is no wind. Some suggest aiming at the next mark till the boat speed and apparent wind speeds are compatible.

[StuM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossar...autical_terms:

Knock
See Header.