Dear All,

Until I started sailing my Wave I'd never sailed before (except on the ferries to the mainland <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> ). Anyway, until now I've just been learning to sail the boat without the jib but I'm now ready to start using it. However, all I know is when I Tack or Jybe I pull one rope or the other to move the jib ............. you can all stop laughing now <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

So I need lots of advice on what a jib does and how I use it.

Regards, Tim

Sheesh, no replies yet?

Not since I sailed my 14T that I sailed with a jib. Been about 20 years, but here goes...

In general a jib is used to add a little more sail area for additional speed. From what I have read, the Wave jib does not increase performance much. But it is a good training tool, plus it gives crew something to do.

Basically, the jib is just a second sail and should be treated like one. Trim it in just until it stops luffing (flapping), kind of the way you do the main. It does have a telltale, so follow the same rules as the main, using the telltale as a guide. Sheet the jib in if the telltale is pointing high, sheet out if it is pointing low.

Also, one nice aspect of a jib on a catamaran is that of a tacking aid. The Wave does tack quite well, but cats in generealy do tend to stall rather easily when tacking (especially the Hobie 14's!). The jib can be backwinded to carry you thru the tack. To do this, simply leave the jib cleated as you begin tacking. As the boat starts the turn into the wind, the cleated jib catches the wind on the opposite side, now pushing the bows around more quickly. Once you are established on a new tack, then uncleat the jib from the now backwinded position and allow the jib to function normally. Adjust the sheet on the main, then adjust the jib.

When gybing, just manage your main first, but maybe just tighen the jibsheet some, then otherwise leave the jib alone. It will switch sides when it wants. Then sheet it out.

Comes pretty natural after a while.

Good luck.

Howdy,

(Finally got a moment I'm pretending is free to respond in!) We sail with the jib a fair bit. Our kids think it's fun and it is a bit faster--especially if you have several people aboard. No question it's not nearly as cool as Rick's Hooter (but we are still saving up for that--and trying to figure out if it would fit on the trailer anyway!).

Couple of things that can give you some anxiety with a jib--it'll flap like crazy if it's not filled with wind (including every time you tack or if the sheet's just a bit loose). wannahobie is right about the jib being a tacking aid. Let it backwind until you're well around and then switch the sheet to the leeward side of the mast. One problem we often have (especially with several people aboard is that you have to make sure no one's got a foot or knee or whatever on the sheet. You kind of have to train people that when you call for a tack or jibe, that's one of the things they need to check before they tell you they're ready.

One thing you have to be a bit careful of is that the starboard jib sheet (and sometimes even the port one if the jib's really flapping) can easily foul on the mainsail halyard cleat. I don't have a great trick for keeping it clear of that, but if you get the release timing right (and have a little tension on the leeward sheet as you release the windward sheet), it usually doesn't get caught.

A last thing (which you have no doubt already figured out by now). I noted it flaps like crazy if not trimmed tightly enough, well, if while luffing wildly, the clew (where the sheet attaches) hits someone sitting on the forward part of the hull, it can hurt (especially if you have some hardware there to facilitate attaching the sheets rather than just a couple of knots). When the jib is coming around to the leeward side after a turn, you don't want anyone on the forward part of the leeward hull (they'd also be in the way of the sheet you'll be trying to tighten). And, if you're sailing along and drift off the point of sail your jib is trimmed for, you can ding someone pretty severely if the jib starts to luff with someone sitting on the forward part of the leeward hull (this is rare because of the sheet's making it an awkward place to sit). The thing is, you have to get used to finding a different spot on the boat if you have several people aboard and you're not used to the jib.

In general, getting smacked in the head (usually the target, it seems) by the clew of the jib isn't terribly likely because the sheet is going to make it awkward for someone to sit on the forward leeward hull (although our kids sometimes like to get in there after the jib is trimmed). The trick is, if you have someone on the forward windward hull, they'll need to coordinate moving to the other side as you turn so that they don't end up with the jib luffing like anything right in their face as it comes around. Again, if they don't move in time, they'd be in the way of the sheet anyway, but a failed tack because you couldn't sheet in the jib when you wanted to is a lot worse if someone's nursing a bruised head too.

All the best breezes!

The easiest way to keep jib sheets from getting caught on things on the mast is to screw a little stainless strap onto the front of the mast, one or two feet up from the bottom. Tie the middle of a shockcord to the strap and run each end down to the ends of the main beam on each side and tie off to the beam with a clove hitch at each end. The shock cord in that triangle configuration helps keep lines from catching on any projections on the mast.