| HIGH WINDS
HOW TO KEEP CONTROL
If you weigh about 70 lbs and the wind is blowing white caps, holding the boat flat is difficult. Heeling the boat going to windward is slow; the boat will not point high and it is scary. You also risk turning over which is really slow.
Why does the boat heal? What can you do about it?
Heeling happens when you do not have the strength, weight and skill to keep the boat from tripping over the centerboard (CB).
Many coaches recommend you first try dropping the sprit 1 to
1 ½ inches. This spills the wind out of the sail and lowers the force causing you to heel.
If that does not work, try raising the CB 3 to 6 inches.
You might ask: Won't my boat slide sideways? Yes and no. Raising the CB will give you more effective surface area compared to a heeled boat with the CB down. The raised CB boat does slide a little but not nearly as much as a heeled boat.
Raising the CB does more than help you keep the boat flat.
When the boat heels you take on more water. The water goes to the low side of the boat away from you. Bailing is impossible going to weather. The more water in the boat the harder it is to hike and keep the boat flat.
Heeling makes it hard to steer your boat. The force you feel is called weather helm. It is the rudder dragging in the water. This dragging slows the boat. A flat boat will require much less arm muscle to steer.
Other things you can do.
With the CB up you should be able to keep the boat flat most of time. When a strong puff hits you hike hard, steer into the wind a little and last let the sail out a little to dump the strong wind and keep the boat flat. Tighten your boom vang. This keeps the sail flat when you let out the main sheet. You may not have to do all these things depending on the strength of the puff. Pull the sail back in when the puff goes by you. To tell when a strong gust is about to hit watch the boats to windward and also look for dark spots on the water in front of you. The dark spots are puffs soon to hit your sail causing you to heel. Remember it is better to have your sail flap a little than to let the boat heel.
Use a flat sail made for someone your weight. A flat sail will not catch as much wind and reduces the force that makes you heel.
In very heavy conditions a lightweight skipper should leave the vang and out haul to the same adjustment as going to weather. Concentrate on boat control and getting the boat up on a plane. The sail will not be quite as fast off the wind but your light weight will make up for any loss in speed.
There is no substitute for hiking hard. Hiking hard requires exercise and muscle building.
Try practicing in strong winds with the board up you'll be surprised how much easier it is to control the boat and stay close to or beat your heavy weight friends.
McLaughlin Boat Works, World
Champion Boatbuilder For Over 40 Years. |