Staying in the Irons

   You want to try heaving to rather than going into irons (assuming we are talking a cat rig).

Back the jib and hold the helm hard away with the mainsheet released. The boat doesn't actually stop moving, but the backed jib and the rudder work together so that the boat should stay in that position while moving slowly forwards (and sideways a bit too). As this is not head to wind it also means the boom isn't swinging about in the middle of the boat.

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Lukepiewalker Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 24 May 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1341	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lukepiewalker Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Staying in the Irons Posted: 23 Sep 10 at 7:47am
	You want to try heaving to rather than going into irons (assuming we are talking a cat rig). Back the jib and hold the helm hard away with the mainsheet released. The boat doesn't actually stop moving, but the backed jib and the rudder work together so that the boat should stay in that position while moving slowly forwards (and sideways a bit too). As this is not head to wind it also means the boom isn't swinging about in the middle of the boat.
	Ex-Finn GBR533 "Pie Hard" Ex-National 12 3253 "Seawitch" Ex-National 12 2961 "Curved Air" Ex-Mirror 59096 "Voodoo Chile"

kurio99 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 18 Dec 09 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 65	Post Options Post Reply Quote kurio99 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 23 Sep 10 at 2:32am
	Often when single handed, I have needed to turn into the wind in order to raise/drop sails, fix some rigging, dig into the forward compartment, and so forth. How do I keep my dinghy in the irons when I need both hands for some other task? Even with the sheets loose, the instant that my hands leave the tiller, the boat starts to spin, boom starts flying, and things get ugly. What's the trick to keeping the boat stalled and pointed to the wind? Do you use a drogue?