Hobie Cat Forums

Most people that sail getaways are familiar with the problem with tacking into the wind when it's a little breezy. I've always had problems with this when the wind is between about 12 and 20 miles an hour. And jibing is not always the best idea especially when there's not much much weight on board.

So the other day I had a friend on board who is an avid kayaker. And he had the idea that right before you are turned all the way into the wind you shove your leg (or paddle) down into the water on the upwind hull (this is the same idea that you can turn a kayak quickly, as a pivot with the paddle). This will slow the boat just enough on the right-hand side to turn it across the wind and you will find yourself coming over and making a good tack. We did this three times in 15 to 20 mile-per-hour winds and it worked perfectly. So if you have an extra person on board, try it one day, perhaps with both legs. Or if you are pretty spry you may be able to do it yourself. Just a thought that may help out with the tacking on a Getaway.

OMG I hope the day never comes when I got to put my leg into the water to tack my cat! For me the key is just leaving the jib cleated tight, that will pull the boat though the tack. Once your sure the boat has turned far enough just pop the jib and pull it in on the other side. Seams to work for me no matter what the wind is.

_________________
06 getaway -- always remember, man with both feet in mouth have no leg to stand on.

On my friend's Getaway, we found the trick was to both move as close to the back as possible on the windward just seconds before tacking. This lifts the bows out of the water a bit and when you start to tack, the bows swings faster as the stern acts as a pivot.

As soon as the jib backfills, it finishes the tack for us. Then we uncleat the jib and switch sides.

_________________
Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

I almost always have 4-5 people on board, so unfortunately it's not easy to ease the weight on the bow to tack. Waiting to move the jib over does work well, but the trick we used seemed to help a lot no matter the condition or crew.

I realise you cannot all be in the back, but the crew can still slide closer. A person lounging on the front tramp would also give you a hard time.

_________________
Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

Also, try sheeting in the main really hard as you are entering the tack, and then releasing it. This will give you more windward-turning component. In an extreme case it could be combined with releasing the jib a tad (and then pulling it for the backwinding). Doing these I've been able to sail and complete a tack with 15 knots with the RUDDERS UP. Try sailing rudders up, it's a fun exercise and shows how how important sail control is in which way the boat wants to turn. Just control the boat by how much you pull the jib vs how much you pull the main. Weight needs to be in the back for it to work better.

Also I think I'd like to avoid putting my leg in the water to tack on a regular basis, but it's surely a good idea that I'll have in my head in case the other methods I have don't work. Thanks for the advice!

I also bring the main with me when I cross to the other side, it has a weathervane effect and helps turning. So prior to crossing, easy the main, grab the bundle of lines between the 2 blocks and carry with you as you cross over and hold until it fills.

_________________
Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

I will try releasing the main, ive never done that before. Yes, there is almost always someone on the forward tramp, this could be half the problem to begin with. I'll try these tips out next time we go out. I don't know that I would reccomend anyone doing the leg/paddle trick unless you had someone on board to do it for you, as it wouldn't be easy to turn around and do it yourself. But, it did work for us with strong winds and a large crew.

And moving the main by hand towards the new tack while turning into the wind helps. It also makes for a smoother transition of the main, it does not swing to the other side.

_________________
Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

The trick to tacking any catamaran successfully is to have the main sail sheeted in tight and entering the tack at full speed. Many beginners will start a tack by uncleating and releaseing the mainsail. Unfortunately, that is the exact opposite of what you should do. Releasing the main too early causes the boat to stall and and does not allow the bows to go head-to-wind.

What you want to do is enter the tack at full speed sailing along closehauled and sheeted in tight. Steadily turn the rudders over so the bows go head to wind. Once you reach head to wind, immediately release at least two feet of mainsheet and keep the rudders held over. When you hear the battens in the mainsail "pop" to the new side, release the jib and sheet in on the new side. Then straighten the rudders and gradually begin bringing in the mainsail. If you bring in the main too early, the boat will round up head to wind and go into irons. It's all about timing.

If you go into irons, learn the procedure for reversing the rudders and backing out onto the correct tack.

sm