Weather Helm/Tacking

   As has just been said be positive in the tiller and keep it at a constant angle throughout the tack. As the boat approaches head to wind ease the mainsheet. As you are doing keep on the windward side as long as possible even once the boat has gone through head to wind and certainly keep your weight back. This actually will help the boat tack.
Certainly a good idea to sail with an 'experienced' cat sailor at your club as they can often point out small differences of sailing a cat over a monohull. Unfortunately it is a case of pratise but very pleased to read your enjoying it

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Stuart O Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 22 Jul 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 514	Post Options Post Reply Quote Stuart O Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Weather Helm/Tacking Posted: 18 Oct 07 at 9:52am
	As has just been said be positive in the tiller and keep it at a constant angle throughout the tack. As the boat approaches head to wind ease the mainsheet. As you are doing keep on the windward side as long as possible even once the boat has gone through head to wind and certainly keep your weight back. This actually will help the boat tack. Certainly a good idea to sail with an 'experienced' cat sailor at your club as they can often point out small differences of sailing a cat over a monohull. Unfortunately it is a case of pratise but very pleased to read your enjoying it

Scooby_simon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 02 Apr 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2415	Post Options Post Reply Quote Scooby_simon Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Oct 07 at 9:26am
	Agree with Worthy and Stuart, more info would help, but one usual mistake people make with skegged boats is that you do need to be fairly positive with the rudders; as there are no plates there is no cental pivot point and so a bit more push on the tiller bar is required. I've not sailed a Pacific and so cannot comment on specifics, but generally the way to tack skegged boats (my skegged boats were Dart 18's and 15's) is to get the weight back to get the bows out. You also need to let some mainsheet out as you get near to head to wind otherwise you stall (thus needing a hard back of the jib). You may well always need some jib-back to help you round, but the key is being more positive on the rudders. Don't just stuff them hard over, they will just act like brakes, but push them over gently, but firmly. EDIT: merlinghnd our posts crossed; sheeting in as you head up may not actually help (odd as it sounds). Edited by Scooby_simon
	Wanna learn to Ski - PM me..

merlinghnd Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 17 Oct 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote merlinghnd Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Oct 07 at 9:25am
	Thanks for taking the time. I am new to this cat sailing and bought the boat second hand and therefore set up. The boat came with a self tacker but I am not using this at the moment as I have had to take the spinnaker pole off for a repair. The jib sheet leads are now fixed on the cross bar about half way between the "full out" and "full in" positions. I have tried every way to tack, hard over and fast (stalls), on a reach and gradually coming into the wind with the rudders about 45 degrees and sheeting in as I go and then releasing some main sheet tension but again stalls. I have tried to stay on the leeward hull side as long as possible. Every time holding onto the jib tight and not letting go. In fact the only way I have ever tacked is by physically backing the jib by holding it right out with the person doing this sat right forward on the wing arm straight out. I have spoken to a few people at the club I sail from (A cat club) and taken advice. However last night I did wonder if the weather helm issue or lack of it might have something to do with it. I have found car forums very helpful in the past so thought I might pick some brains here. I am told there is a knack to it, I just cannot find it. Next step might be to take someone from the club out a see what they think. Any thoughts?

Worthy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 07 Dec 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 511	Post Options Post Reply Quote Worthy Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Oct 07 at 8:47am
	You want no weather helm at all!!! Agree with Stuart, need more detail about tacking.

Stuart O Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 22 Jul 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 514	Post Options Post Reply Quote Stuart O Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Oct 07 at 8:14am
	In order to help you on this matter could you please go into some detail of how you tack, I know it may seem embarrasing to do this, but it really would help.... it may well be something basic that we can talk you through. Personally I wouldn't any weather helm.

merlinghnd Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 17 Oct 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote merlinghnd Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 Oct 07 at 10:30pm
	Hello Everyone, I am a brand new cat sailor owning a second hand Hobie Pacific which is just fantastic but.. When sailing I have no weather helm at all, the rudders very neutral at all points of sail. If I fell off, it would just sail serenely on ( probably sails itself better than me!). I have heard you need to increase mast rake to increase weather helm but my shrouds are down to the last hole so there is no more to give. I am a big guy at 16stone so there is a lot of weight aft. I am also finding it impossible to tack and only do so when the jib is fully backed by hand right out at 90 degrees and then often backing the rudders. My question is, if I increased weather helm would it tack better and how do I increase weather helm with the shrouds right down?? Thanks for any answers, cats are the just great, should have done this years ago.