the SmarterCharter Monohull Guide by David Blacklock & Michael Domican

Author:David Blacklock & Michael Domican [Blacklock, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pegleg Press

Simple enough. If you started from close-hauled, you probably didn’t have to touch the sails at all. But what if you can’t tack because there’s not enough sea room in that direction, or because crabbing that way will take you too far away from where you want to go? No worries, there is another way to heave-to that keeps you on the same tack. Assuming again that you’re on port tack, here are the steps:

* * *

Take all of the slack out of the lazy headsail sheet and (taking care to make sure that it’s not snagged on a hatch or on anything at the mast) wrap four turns around its winch drum, then into the self-tailing jaws and insert the winch handle.

While continuing to steer at the same angle to the wind, ease and then release the working headsail sheet that’s to leeward, while grinding-in on the hitherto lazy windward one.

Keep grinding the headsail to windward until the clew gets past the mast. How far aft you grind it will depend on the boat you’re on and the size of your headsail. On most monohulls, you’ll be bringing the clew just past the windward shrouds. On all boats, grind the sail in until it’s stretched fairly flat.

Once your headsail is successfully backed, proceed as above. Your boat speed will already have diminished so all you need do is turn the wheel slowly all the way to windward—to oppose the pressure of the headsail. If you have a steering lock that works, apply it now. If you don’t have a lock or it doesn’t grip properly, lash the wheel with whatever line you have. We use the tail end of the windward jib sheet wound between the wheel and the windward winch-–you won’t even need a knot-–just wrap it around the top of the self-tailing winch.

Once hove-to, the boat will have settled down; the pounding of the waves has greatly diminished and the boat is moving slowly and drifting in a smooth and comfortable manner, at about 45° off the wind.

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