Lily it wrote:
My father in law recently purchased a tandem island and we have all been having a blast. Today the winds piped up to aro 15 knots. When it was being sailed by two people no problems only fun. But when single handed the boat consistently rounded up and had trouble coming through the wind. Eventually he had to sail backwards into the lee of an island and use the mirage drive to power him through the wind.
Has anyone else experienced this and any suggestions on overcoming this problem when sailing alone?
The TI sails best solo from the rear seat, when the winds pickup to 25-30 I move to the middle of the boat, kneeing over the rear crossbar. To tack in high winds, you need to come off the wind a little and build up some speed, maybe opening up the sail a little too. Then, throw the rudder hard over, pull in the sail, once though the eye of the wind, let the sail out, pick up speed, and bear up to the wind again. I hold the sheet in my hand to adjust sail angle as needed. I almost never gybe, you lose a LOT of altitude gybing, and in the TI and AI we don't go to windward so well that we have altitude to spare (where altitude equals distance upwind).
Some peddling with the mirage drive may be necessary in winds over 20-25, otherwise I have the drive pulled and the plugs in.
I also tend to run more sail than is recommended by Hobie and this forum, but when the ama is fully submerged, it's time to furl.
Cheers,
J
:edit: ps, I was surprised to find that the centerboard is relatively unnecessary in stronger winds, as long as the ama is buried, it sails well. Better down, but not necessary.