Hi, I live in Guadalajara, Mexico and I'm fairly new to sailing, I've been doing this great activity for one year only, and I'm completly hooked to it. I have a H16, and sail in Puerto Vallarta for the summer and in a small lake 45 min, from home for the rest of the year when I'm not working. I'm 45 year old, and work as a Physician secialized in Physical medicine and rehabililitation. I have lots of questions, since this is new to me, but just for a start, I need some tips on sailing on strong winds. In the lake where I sail there is only two conditions: No wind, and very strong wind. At around 6 PM within one or two minutes the wind builds from practicaly "0" to 18 knotts (acording to the many windsurffers that gather there) So the sailing is great according to others but I find it very thretening for me. My main concerns are taking and making it back to shore since this alwais happens with very strong wind behind me. I'd apreciate the tips, and apologise for my spelling.
My main concerns are taking and making it back to shore since this alwais happens with very strong wind behind me.
Hello there,
Tacking with two people on an H16 in heavy air can be fustrating. I don't have time to type up the steps to the Rick White Roll Tack here, but if you're only concerned with making it through irons, keep the jib backwinded until your main battens pop over to the new tack, then release the jib. It will slow you down almost instantly, but at least you'll be headed in the right direction.
As for coming back in downwind. If you feel that you're overpowered, then tighten up your traveller and mainsheet. It will stall out the sail and keep you from nosediving. Be careful to head as deep as possible when you do this "survivor mode" sailing, because if you head up, you'll power the sail back up and you might go over.
Welcome to catamaran sailing! As you might imagine, there are a ton of tips available for handling your boat in high winds. I can't recommend enough, Rick's book on "Cat Sailing for the 90's" or any of the Rick White videos - there is a ton of information in there (and you should be able to order them from this website).
A couple of key things to consider when tacking in heavy air (or anytime really):
1) prior to tacking, your mainsail and jib should be close hauled (in very tight) - you will be lucky to get the boat turned through the eye of the wind if they are loose - especially on a H16. It doesn't matter if it's heavy wind or light wind, they need to be sheeted tightly and the boat moving forward well prior to starting that tack.
2) Turn the rudders gently until they are fully (or nearly) turned. If you jam them over quickly, they act like a brake and slow the boat down. If you turn them slowly, it gives the boat more time to begin turning and it will carry more momentum through the turn.
3) Make sure your crew doesn't release the jib to early in the turn. The jib should be uncleated when the wind has just started to push in the leading edge of it. If you release the jib before you get head to wind, you are loosing power. You need the jib to continue pulling as long as possible.
4) Try moving you and your crew farther back on the boat to get the bows floating higher or out of the water when turning. The bows are moving sideways and pushing a lot of water when they are turning. If you can raise them higher there will be less resistance to turning. However, in high winds, you may want to be cautious about moving your weight too far back because the boat might flip backwards if the wind gets under the trampoline.
Maugan listed a good tip too - if you continue to have trouble tacking or are in rough water or are in a tight maneuvering area where you MUST make a tack, backwinding the jib will help you make sure you'll get through the eye of the wind. Instead of releasing the jib when you get head to wind, leave it cleated on the wrong side until the boat is safely on the new course - then change it over.
You also mentioned landing the boat onshore with a strong onshore breeze. I haven't tried this yet so I can't say for sure if this really works but practice 'backing up' in an open large place on the lake. Raise your rudders, release the mainsail, and have both you and your crew get out as far forward on the boat as possible while one of you holds the jib out to the side. I understand this will make the boat sail backwards pretty well. Once you've nearly reached shore, release the jib and step off into the water to stabilize the boat.
