Technique for Getting Home with No Wind

   Any good tips for getting back home when the wind disappears completely (not talking about racing here so don't care if it breaks any of the rules).
This has happened to me twice recently and experimenting with pumping the tiller and rocking the boat have managed to get me to crawl back to the slipway against the tide but really hard work and took ages.
Thanks

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mossman Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Newbie Joined: 22 Feb 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 28	Post Options Post Reply Quote mossman Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Technique for Getting Home with No Wind Posted: 01 Sep 08 at 11:54am
	Any good tips for getting back home when the wind disappears completely (not talking about racing here so don't care if it breaks any of the rules). This has happened to me twice recently and experimenting with pumping the tiller and rocking the boat have managed to get me to crawl back to the slipway against the tide but really hard work and took ages. Thanks

tgruitt Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 02 Dec 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2479	Post Options Post Reply Quote tgruitt Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 08 at 12:04pm
	Use the daggerboard as a paddle, use the rudder as a paddle, use your hand as a paddle, or buy one of those orange paddles! Edited by tgruitt
	Needs to sail more...

alstorer Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 02 Aug 07 Location: Cambridge Online Status: Offline Posts: 2899	Post Options Post Reply Quote alstorer Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 08 at 12:05pm
	Aginst a tide can be really hard going. If this happens a lot, conside carrying a paddle- or even two- if you can stow them somewhere sensible. Other tips- the tide flows less in shallower areas. Effective pumping is a bit of an artform. On a two man boat coordination is key. Single handed: Roll the boat away from you, letting the main out a bit. Roll it smoothly back pulling the main in as you do. Try not to capsize to windward doing this!

HannahJ Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 23 Jul 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 861	Post Options Post Reply Quote HannahJ Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 08 at 12:54pm
	We had problems with this yesterday just trying to get back to the start area: both helm and crew rowing with arms only get us from going backwards, as did pumping, we'd left the paddle ashore and didn't want to risk losing the daggerboard... in the end a friendly rib came and towed us along with everyone else. I think a paddle on tidal waters is the only solution, probably a proper wooden/plastic one instead of those orange praddle things that didn't seem to be helping anyone.
	MIRROR 64799 "Dolphin" The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist hopes it will change; the realist adjusts the sail

marcus3292 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 01 Feb 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 38	Post Options Post Reply Quote marcus3292 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 08 at 1:58pm
	a paddle
	phantoms kick a**e (when sailed well)

ASok Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 26 Sep 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 739	Post Options Post Reply Quote ASok Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 08 at 3:22pm
	A paddle is a requirement in the Dart 18 class rules and has come in very handy at times. If singlehanded why not try one of those praddles(?) - I think thats what they are called.

Stefan Lloyd Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 03 Aug 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1599	Post Options Post Reply Quote Stefan Lloyd Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 08 at 3:38pm
	Stick your thumb out and get a tow? It helps if you have your own tow rope. Otherwise "against the tide but really hard work and took ages" - yes it will.

redback Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 16 Mar 04 Location: Tunbridge Wells Online Status: Offline Posts: 1502	Post Options Post Reply Quote redback Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 08 at 4:10pm
	On tidal waters you've got a problem because even a good paddle will make for hard work against the tide. Two paddles are much better but I sail a Laser4000 and there is virtually no storage space. For short distances we can lie along the deck on opposite sides and get quite a good speed for a couple of hundred metres by using our arms as paddles. But a tow rope on board is the answer for longer distances - or wait for the tide to turn. When your top speed is only 3K and the adverse tide is 2K you will soon see the advantage of getting into the shallows - its quite easy to double your speed but even then its going to take hours to cover the sort of distance you could sail in 15 minutes. On the other hand a calm is rarely going to last more than an hour or so and even in a few Knots of wind you'll get up to 2 or 3 knots of speed - so be patient and you'll get there.

Contender 541 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 05 Dec 05 Location: Burton on Trent Online Status: Offline Posts: 1402	Post Options Post Reply Quote Contender 541 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 08 at 4:30pm
	Your own tow rope is (in theory) an absolute must Think salvage laws
	When you find a big kettle of crazy it's probably best not to stir it - Pointy Haired Boss Crew on 505 8780

Lukepiewalker Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 24 May 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1340	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lukepiewalker Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 08 at 5:47pm
	An anchor on a long warp? Or sail to the nearest shore and walk, if the ground allows.
	Ex-Finn GBR533 "Pie Hard" Ex-National 12 3253 "Seawitch" Ex-National 12 2961 "Curved Air" Ex-Mirror 59096 "Voodoo Chile"