Return to Hobie.com
Hobie Forums
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 3:51 pm

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 7 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Pitch-polling
PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2013 5:44 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:58 pm
Posts: 98
Location: Broward County, FL
Is there more risk of pitch-polling from sailing on a close-reach, or from sailing on a run? What are the main strategies for prevention?

_________________
-----------------------
Broward County, FL
1984 Hobie 16, Olympic Edition (kept in NY)
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Pitch-polling
PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2013 12:56 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Admiral

Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:33 am
Posts: 220
Location: Florida
I own an 18 but I'm pretty sure pitch poling is basically a downwind problem. I'd keep the weight balanced, don't hit waves head on, and be careful when you're on the wire because if you slip and swing forward you can pull it over yourself.

_________________
The ox is slow but the earth is patient


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Pitch-polling
PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2013 2:07 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2004 12:36 pm
Posts: 788
Location: Tri-Cities, WA
Beam to beam reach at speed, especially if you bury the leeward hull in the back of a wave, but mostly for me, it happens during a HiWiJi (High Wind Jibe) when both hulls play sub captain and crash dive togeather (pun intended).


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Pitch-polling
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 7:58 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2012 9:20 am
Posts: 8
I find that when close hauled in strong winds, if you have a lot of weather helm and start to fly a hull is another risk for pitch poleing. In essence, as the boat heals, the weather helm not only pushes the boat off the wind but drives the lee hull into the water. Its simple to correct by simply steering into the wind. Can catch you out in a gust though!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Pitch-polling
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 9:13 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Sat Jul 02, 2005 9:47 pm
Posts: 614
Location: San Diego
If the gust drives you away from the wind you have lee helm. You either have to rig with more mast rake (lean the mast more towards the back of the boat), or adjust your rudders back to give more load on the tiller. You may also need to sheet in more (travel out a bit if over powered). Your problem sounds like a mast rake issue.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Pitch-polling
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 10:06 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Admiral

Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:33 am
Posts: 220
Location: Florida
You can balance weather helm with the sheets like trimming an aircraft. If you're steering off then let out the jib and sheet the main in. If you're weathervaning do the opposite. I use this when I let inexperienced guests take the helm and they won't hold a course. I just grab the jib clew and move it in or out, essentially steering with the jib.

_________________
The ox is slow but the earth is patient


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Pitch-polling
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 3:45 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Wed May 05, 2010 8:28 am
Posts: 791
Location: Clinton Lake, KS
Are you racing? If not.. Then WHY NOT pitchpole that thing!!!! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :D :D :mrgreen: :mrgreen:


It is like learning to ride a bike... If you want to be able to ride in all conditions in full control.. Ya can't be afraid to find the limits once in awhile.. Getting rid of this fear will FREE you to move up your learning curve exponentially faster.

Find a 'safe' place to drive the boat hard

stay clear of the shrouds

and let it rip!


If you go out in moderate conditions.. Just play with the thing.. Adjusting sail trim, then and crew weight fore and aft... and watch how it reacts. This will give you a sense of how the boat will react in heavier air... Then just keep working your way up...


The most likely point of sail to pitch the boat is going to be from a broad reach.



And sometimes that rouge gust can just nail ya on a shifty day....

(winds 20-25mph+ and shifty in this video) Good times!!!!!! Stayed tune for the laughing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV1aGyLLMw4

_________________
www.thehobiewayoflife.com


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 7 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Jump to:  
© Hobie Cat Company. All rights reserved.
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group