I was wondering if someone could give me a quick lowdown on the tacking procedure of a H16. I've read a couple articles on backwinding the jib and making the turn long and smooth but everytime I try I stop dead in the water and sometimes don't even make it through the tack! I've gotten a little better after practicing but I guess my big question is; should the boat slow down that much? I'm used to monohulls that move through the tack quickly so this is all very strange to me. Thanks in advance for any info.<br><br>

The H16 is actually not a bad tacking boat for a catamaran. One of the things I see people doing is keeping the mainsheet cleated in tight while trying to tack. This is death for the 16 as it is for many boats. The tacking procedure is simple but does require practice. Start your turn and as you start to luff the jib, release tension on the main. Make sure you keep the rudder turning. Many people when they are moving the tiller arm, stop turning the boat. The jib doesn't have to be backwinded very long. It's only the matter of a few moments of backwinding otherwise it has a tendency to push the boat backwards and rob you of even more speed. Bring your mainsheet in slowly as you start to accelerate. And, yes, unlike dinghys that can be roll tacked, cats almost come to a dead stop (seemingly) when they are tacked. This is one of the reasons why you won't see cats getting into heated tacking duals on windward legs...it's just a really good way of letting the entire fleet back in the race.
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<br>Cheers!<br><br>

Considering what you have been doing and the posted reply, I can offer a few other notes. I bet you get a lot of info on this subject.
<br>When I moved up from my H14 to the H16 I felt the H16 turned considerably slower. It does, and my H14 is slow to tack compared to monohulls. The H16 is tough to tack, so you need every skill.
<br>1. Make sure your rudders are alligned.
<br>2. Turn gently. (turning too hard brakes the boat)
<br>3. Keep the crew weight to the inside of the turn even after the main has switched sides until you are underway. I realize that you will have to adjust your crew weight for the different heading, but wait till the last second.
<br> These are few things I know from experience.
<br>I will be anxious to read other replies to this.
<br>Greg
<br>H14,H16<br><br>

Hi Capt Pete,
<br>While I don't have room here for a full discussion, some of the posting above may help you, but there are two sets of instructions for tacking:
<br>1) The Skipper's Musts
<br>*Basically, for the skipper you must be sailing close-hauled (not reaching) with mainsail tight before tacking.
<br>*Then Start moving to the aft-windward corner while starting to turn, and the turn must be with steadily increasing pressure on the helm (if just a little, you will not have momentum to get through the turn; if jammed over, you put on brakes and it won't make it either)
<br>*Just as the boat goes through the wind, release the mainsheet and ease out about two feet of sheet and recleat. (the main has helped the turn into the wind by a weathervane effect, but once there, the main being released eases the tension on the leech of the mainsail and also makes the sail fuller -- you have taken away the weathervane effect, plus you have shifted the boat into second gear for more power.)
<br>*Stay on that corner until the boat is on a close reach heading and then switch tiller and sheet and cross over and forward (forward make the boats accelerate faster)
<br>2) The Crew's Musts
<br>*Crew should always be looking forward at the jib, with left hand on the port sheet, and right hand on the starboard sheet.
<br>*crew moves aft as the boat begins to turn, and just as the sail begins to luff, uncleat and begin easing the jib until the clew is right at the mast, and then quickly bring in the new burdened sheet.
<br>(This easing will in effect have the jib sail through the turn using max power and will make the boat turn faster. Backwinding is just that -- it stalls the sail and makes the boat want to sail backward or stop the boatspeed. A sail with telltales flowing develops 80% more power than a stalled, or backwinded, sail.)
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<br>Another way to really find out all about this stuff that we have learned in video-taping seminars for the past 12 years is to acquire a video. Sounds like you might want Total Boat Handling. Also available is Upwind Sailing and the Complete Catamaran Rolltack.
<br>Here is the Total Boat Handling:
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<br>and here is the Rolltack Video:
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<br>And they can purchased on this site by clicking on this hot link:
<br>http://www.catsailor.com/rampress/ram_press.html
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<br>Adpolice! Don't bother to reprimand me! I is de boss!
<br><br><br>Rick White
<br>Catamaran Sailor Magazine
<br>email: rick@catsailor.com

Hey everyone, thanks for all the imput!!!!! It was great!!! I would just like to say that this forum has been an invaluable asset to a novice hobie sailor! Keep up the good work and thanks again!<br><br>