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Pico- slow to turn in the tack

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Sam.Spoons View Drop Down
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    Posted: 10 Jul 18 at 9:20am
Yep, a centreboard does make it easier.

For the OP, if you can't understand how you can steer without a rudder visualise sailing dead downwind. heeling to the right has these effects, all of which cause the boat to turn left :-
a. The rig moves to the right of the centreline so the driving force is on the right, like padling on the right only.
b. The daggerboard moves to the left causing drag on the left (dragging the left paddle)
c. The curve of the bilge goes deeper in the water on that side causing the boat to turn following that curve.

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Jack Sparrow View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Jack Sparrow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jul 18 at 12:02pm
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tbanting View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote tbanting Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jul 18 at 1:11pm
Im sailing down in West Sussex- Dell Quay. I have seen the Solos and looked on with envious eyes! ;-)
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Post Options Post Options   Quote ColPrice2002 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jul 18 at 9:49pm
The Solo (and firefly + some others) can roll tack in a different way...

Start the tack by heeling lots to windward. This pushes the bilge into the water and creates drag on the windward side, helping the hull to turn.
The immersed hull is now quite broad and short, so turning the boat is easier.
Wher around, cross the boat and sit up to (new) windward side. The roll can generate wind across the sail as you roll the boat...

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Sam.Spoons View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Sam.Spoons Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jul 18 at 10:41pm
I'm not sure that's how it works, heel to windward causes the boat to bear away. The heel to windward happens as you pass through the eye of the wind (the first roll from leeward heel to windward, fanning the sail throughout the air and driving the boat forward). The second roll (at the start of the new tack) fans the sail a second time and brings the speed back up. In a two hander you'd let the jib off to help the turn but in a una-rig the leeward heel and fanning of the rig starts the turn and, I guess, momentum finishes it off.

Edited by Sam.Spoons - 11 Jul 18 at 10:44pm
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Post Options Post Options   Quote NickA Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Aug 18 at 10:04pm
Never had trouble tacking my (kids' old) pico (which I still have for very windy days and sentimental reasons)  It has a relatively huge rudder, is quite floaty and ought to spin on a sixpence.

Just ram the tiller across.  Bit of leeward heel before the tack helps and a bit of a roll / pump as you go through the wind.  AS you get better use less rudder and more roll. In fact when tacking from beam reach to beam reach in a blow it will spin so fast (pivoting around the centre board) it goes backwards for a bit before heading off on the new tack.  Loads of fun.

Are you sure yours isn't full of water? Sent a mate out in mine once with no bung in and after 15 min she found it became all unsteerable.
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