Tacking Help

[nolandinsight]

Sailing home the other day under headsail only (masthead sloop) and got caught by the drawbridge. Traffic was light so I tacked back and forth in the channel waiting. South wind coming over the beam (north/south channel). I found that I couldn't head all the way up into the wind. I turned the rudder to point south and could only get so far before the boat would start to point back to the north. Was this because I was only under headsail? I'm aware that the main functions to resist some of the lateral forces, but never thought I wouldn't be able to turn into the wind. Has this happened to anyone else?

[cranki]

It never happened when I had a 30' fin keel sloop that would turn on a dime, but it does now in my 41' Ketch with modified keel.

[nolandinsight]

Interesting. Mine is a 35 foot modified keel.

[JPA Cate]

If you have significant way on, many boats can tack without the main being set. If won't, you can gybe around.

If your rudder is located right at the aft end of your keel and is a long way from the stern, it won't have the lever arm to tack you in light air, the more lateral plane aft, the easier.

If you want to short-tack, use the main, too, or make sure you have plenty of way on.


Ann

[smaarch]

which direction was the current? I have it happen with just the right combination of wind and current. Pearson 30 fin keel

[nolandinsight]

Ann,

I was moving slow, so not a lot of momentum. That makes sense about the rudder placement.

Smaarch,

The current was slow, but definitely moving south, against the wind.