Banter: Two sail reaching

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Two sail reaching

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Banter
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Printed Date: 30 Jun 25 at 5:13am
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Topic: Two sail reaching

Posted By: ellistine
Subject: Two sail reaching
Date Posted: 07 Jul 10 at 12:26pm

Last weekend at the Weymouth Regatta we had a couple of
tight reaches that we're definite no no's for a kite
launch.

However, I just couldn't seem to get the boat going on a
two sail reach (and not for the first time).

What's the general thinking as far as controls when two
sail reaching? Is the kicker supposed to be on or off?
Controlled leach or lots of twist? What about the
cunningham? Our cunningham was jammed on and we did seem
to go better once it was unjammed so that may be part of
the problem.

Replies:

Posted By: Merlinboy
Date Posted: 07 Jul 10 at 1:12pm

What sort of wind speed and chop?

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Posted By: ellistine
Date Posted: 07 Jul 10 at 1:21pm

Any really. We quite often seem to struggle with it. Last
weekend was probably 15+ knts and fairly wavey (for us
anyway).

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Posted By: GybeFunny
Date Posted: 07 Jul 10 at 1:50pm

I would say loose kicker, boom near the centreline, when you get a gust the boom will go up and out and is less likely to catch in the water. Bear off a little to get it planing and head up a bit once planing and play the mainsheet loads to keep the boat flat or possibly a small amount of leeward heel.

Posted By: craiggo
Date Posted: 07 Jul 10 at 4:10pm

Keep kicker on, otherwise when a gust hits your rig will spill the wind and you wont accelerate. Only ease the kicker if you are constantly overpowered otherwise play the sheet and steer to keep the boat flat and moving as fast as possible. Only as you approach the mark where you can bear away should you ease kicker to facilitate a smoother platform for your crew to hoist.

Posted By: Jon711
Date Posted: 07 Jul 10 at 6:00pm

I would also suggest that if needing to spill, that the
jib and main are spilled equally. When gust hits bear
away, but, you need to get the balance right that, you do
not bear away too much, that is where the equal spill
comes in. It does take a lot of coordination between
helm and crew, but if you have been sailing together for
a few events you should have that!!

A few weekends ago, we were sailing at Bough Beech when
HUGE gusts and 30 degree windshifts came in, the helm
couldn't feather the boat fast enough, and I was spilling
the jib - a lot is down to feel, and experience at both
ends of the boat...

Jon

Posted By: les5269
Date Posted: 07 Jul 10 at 7:37pm

Use the Jib and main together easing and bringing them in together. This is difficult and takes practice, but once you get it, you'll notice a big difference in how the boat reacts.

Something else worth trying is pointing up the wave and bearing off on the back of it to accellerate. Don't be to harsh with this though or you'll lose you crew!

I'd say keep some kicker on and loosen the cunningham, don't keep loads of kicker on, just enough to keep the boom flat.

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49er 531 & 5000 5025 and a mirror(now gone to mirror heaven)!

http://www.grafham.org/" rel="nofollow - Grafham water Sailing Club The greatest inland sailing in the country

Posted By: Skiffybob
Date Posted: 07 Jul 10 at 11:02pm

With those reaches, you needed to ease the kicker just a little to introduce a bit of twist in the main, but not too much. Easing the cunno also helps as you put more power into the main.

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12ft Skiff - Gordon Keeble and the Furry Fly-by
AC - GBR271 - Whoosh
B49 - Island Alchemy

Posted By: ellistine
Date Posted: 07 Jul 10 at 11:28pm

Had another impossible reach in tonights race but managed
it a lot better. Had some kicker, but not tight and bore
away in the gusts. Much quicker.

Thanks all.

Have a new question. I'll start another thread.

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Posted By: Neal_g
Date Posted: 08 Jul 10 at 10:53am

good thing for your crew to remember on 2 sail reaches is that he should be playing the jib all the way along as if it was the spinnaker keeping the tell tales flying all the time and dont cleat it

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(Redoubt Sc)
Miracle 4040
GP14 13407

Crewsaver phase 2 range now available to buy online on at http://www.gibsonsails.com

Posted By: Contender 541
Date Posted: 08 Jul 10 at 12:08pm

Totally agree with Neal_g

on the 5oh, I never cleat the jib on a 2 sail and work the tell tails as the wind comes forward / goes aft as we accelerate / decelerate.

On a 2 sail, basically treat the jib as you would a Spinnaker - with TLC always keeping the sails flowing and the power on.

If a bear away is needed, react to it - you will have seen it on the tell tails and fly it as the boat healed

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When you find a big kettle of crazy it's probably best not to stir it - Pointy Haired Boss

Crew on 505 8780

Posted By: redback
Date Posted: 08 Jul 10 at 5:02pm

It depends a lot on whether its tight or broad (obviously
not very broad or you'd put the kite up)and that is also
very dependent on wind strength.

As a rule there is tight and that's too tight to really
bear away and head up in gusts and lulls, so the
technique is plenty of kicker and play the sails and run
backwards and forwards along the gunwhale to keep the
boat at optimum trim. The helm will get pretty tired
from playing the main to keep the boat level.

Broader and you'll be bearing away in the gust to get a
bit of depth so that you can keep the speed up by heading
up in the lulls. Again a lot of gunwhale running
required.

You need a bit of kicker so the sail goes in and out like
a barn door. The helm won't get quite so tired from
playing the main since it'll be a bit lighter but it'll
still be going in and out like a yoyo. He'll be using
rather larger helm movements and its very important to
keep the boat upright because it won't bear away in the
gusts if its allowed to heel. In both cases the crew
should be playing the jib in sync with the main and its
important not to oversheet. Its a waste to undersheet
but at least the boat is more likely to accelerate in the
gusts if the sail is a bit on the slack side.

In summary, if its tight, its point the boat at the mark
and play the sheets to keep it powered but level. If its
a bit broader start driving off in the gusts and heading
up in the lulls and play the sheets to keep the boat
level.

In the faster boats beware of the pitch-pole.

Posted By: Skiffybob
Date Posted: 08 Jul 10 at 8:54pm

All said above is good, but in your boat, if it's windy, set the jib and then give the main to your crew.

The crew can play the main quicker than you (as they have 2 hands free). This will help to keep the boat flatter, which is absolutely key to speed, especially in a chined boat.

Also, the load on the mainsheet will help keep the crew planted onto the gunwale.

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12ft Skiff - Gordon Keeble and the Furry Fly-by
AC - GBR271 - Whoosh
B49 - Island Alchemy