J24 (Sail No. 4239) Dartmouth |
29er GBR 074 Tynemouth |
Laurent Giles 'Jolly Boat' Exeter |
List classes of boat for sale |
Asymetric Gybe |
Post Reply | Page 12> |
Author | |
ellistine
Really should get out more Joined: 06 Mar 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 762 |
Post Options
Quote Reply
Topic: Asymetric Gybe Posted: 22 Aug 08 at 4:03pm |
I only started sailing in March so hopefully this qualifies as a beginners question! I'm after some top tips on how to gybe with the gennaker up. We seem to be able to manage it ok by slowing right down, steering through the turn, bearing off a little as the boom comes across and then start to head up but it's all very sloooow. I've read that gybes are best carried out at speed but each time we try it we end up too powered and capsize. Are there ways to depower the kite throught the manouver and should I be sheeting in the main or letting it out as we turn? Thanks |
|
alstorer
Really should get out more Joined: 02 Aug 07 Location: Cambridge Online Status: Offline Posts: 2899 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 22 Aug 08 at 4:22pm |
Gybes are best carried out at speed, but that shouldn't be confused with gybing quickly. You want to carry as much speed into the turn as possible, as this will mean there will be less pressure on the main as it comes across. However, you need to avoid being agressive with the tiller (gybing quickly), as this will cause you to round up into the wind rapidly, powering up both sails, causing you to heel over, turn further and swim. Otherwise, you want to be doing pretty much what you descibe- steer in slowly, straighten up as the boom comes across, then head up (and speed up) once you're settled. As you get better at this, you can do it quicker. Depowering the kite: What I've been taught on the B14, which has a far bigger kite than I've used in the past (I've never really needed to depower whilst gybing on other boats), for heavy weather is this: 1: pick up the psychic signals from the stick waggler that a gybe is imminent 2: take up the slack on the "lazy" sheet (current windward sheet) 3: stick waggler mumbles something. Hike the boat flat as he starts to steer, and haul the "working" (loaded) sheet in as tight as possible. 4: as you cross the boat, keep the kite pinned in. It will now collapse against the jib. This is what you're trying to do, DO NOT PANIC. 5: With the main and jib safely over, and the stick waggler having extricated himself from another fine mess, release the new "lazy" sheet, haul the big sail round the forestay, and off you go.
This is where having a way of attaching the kite sheet that minimises catching can be handy. Our current set up has the core exposed at the mid poinnt, and the ends of the outer stiched together, forming a small loop. This goes through the clew, and the ends passed through it. It could be improved by having a short piece of thin line spliced across the "v" that's created. Zip luff or integrated forestay jibs are also important for this. |
|
ellistine
Really should get out more Joined: 06 Mar 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 762 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 22 Aug 08 at 4:40pm |
Brilliant! Just the thing I was looking for. As the stick waggler I will obvioulsy expect the movable ballast up front to do all this without being told so! |
|
JimC
Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6649 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 22 Aug 08 at 5:17pm |
Yep. Basically you need to be going as fast as possible as the main flicks/gets flicked across. Once the main is across you should then only round up slowly to give yourselves time to get the lard out over the side etc. Its may be worth "counter steering" as the boom goes across - pulling the tiller towards you so that the boat stops turning, even goes a bit deeper, so that you stay on a run until you've got yourselves sorted out ready to go back to the reach.
|
|
les5269
Really should get out more Joined: 11 Oct 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1530 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 22 Aug 08 at 5:21pm |
Two other things to take into account as the "stick waggler" Don't let the main go over on it's own as you go across grab the strop/main and pull it over when the boat is half way through the gybe. The other thing is keep the boat flat, this will make it much easier on the gybe and help keep the speed on too. Other things to do that will make it easier are, sort out the jib before the gybe so it goes over without backing (you can set it properly when your sorted on the next tack). Keep the spinney sheets tidy in the boat then they wont get caught in the blocks and back the kite when you don't want it to. And most importantly talk to your weight in the front, if they don't know what you are doing they wont help! Edited by les5269 |
|
49er 531 & 5000 5025 and a mirror(now gone to mirror heaven)!
Grafham water Sailing Club The greatest inland sailing in the country |
|
alstorer
Really should get out more Joined: 02 Aug 07 Location: Cambridge Online Status: Offline Posts: 2899 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 22 Aug 08 at 6:08pm |
Such good advice. So sadly ignored so often... remember, during most manouvers, if we're looking back to see what the hell you're up to back there, we're doing something wrong as well. |
|
ellistine
Really should get out more Joined: 06 Mar 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 762 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 22 Aug 08 at 6:11pm |
I found this out mucking about on a Pico one night when it was a bit blowey. Certainly helps.
Thanks everybody |
|
gerunamo=]
Groupie Joined: 30 Nov 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 94 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 22 Aug 08 at 6:42pm |
the faster you go into a gybe the less wind there is on the other gybe to blow you over.... say if there is 25 knots of wind and you are travelling at 15 knots then there is 10 knotsof wind ready to power your sails up... but if you were traveling at 5 knots then there is 20 knots of wait to blow you over....
|
|
49er 884
|
|
English Dave
Really should get out more Joined: 10 Aug 06 Location: Northern Ireland Online Status: Offline Posts: 682 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 23 Aug 08 at 12:37am |
I'm going to echo many of the previos comments here.
Go into the gybe as fast as possible. That keeps the apparent wind well forward and so the flick of the mainsail will be as gentle as possible. In light winds steer a tight course, broaden that as the wind increases. Swap hands early on the tiller/sheet. Feel for the mainsheet unloading and flick the main across at that point. As soon as the crew has got the spinni to fill, he/she should release it a lot. Not necessarily dump it but if it's too tightly sheeted then it'll flip you in. Keep the boat as broad as possible until you are both settled on you new tack. This is a matter of time on the water. As you practice you'll get slicker. Reverse steer slightly as the boom flicks. That'll keep you broad. |
|
dopamine
Groupie Joined: 26 Oct 06 Location: Burkina Faso Online Status: Offline Posts: 68 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 23 Aug 08 at 7:54am |
As someone who's gybes vary from sublime to catastrophic I would add:
Try to sheet the main in slightly to bring the falls closer to you and therefore easier to grab, this will also contribute to keeping speed on. We try to actually pump a bit of extra speed out of the boat before gybing and when it works it is so sweet! Confidence (or fearlessness) is the key. |
|
Post Reply | Page 12> |
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |