Tacking problems

So I was out today in the biggest blow yet - gusts to 35 kph. I'm a newby to the HC 16, but haven't really had problems tacking before. She's a bit of a pig, but nothing too embarassing. But in this wind she just refused to come about. Slakened the sheet, 35 degree rudder or so, hit the tack with good momentum, let the jib backwind a bit to push her around, and wham, she's in irons. Every friggin' time. In the lulls she tacked fine. I've never had this problem before and wondering what we are doing wrong. I know it's sounds just like garden-variety crummy technique, but what we have being doing has always worked in strong but lighter winds. There were major forces operating here that just grabbed her by the nose and woudn't let her go. Only by the wind blowing her backwards against the rudders and backwinding the mainsail could I get her to finally turn off the wind.

Any wise words would be greatly appreciated.

Ah the fun world or high wind cat tacking. Just when you think you got it then up pops more problems. Hers my check list at high wind speeds
1. back off on your angle of attact on the wind before your tack.
2. when your jib starts to fill then then depower your main so as to let the hulls rise up abit.
3. keep you and your crew on the center or the tramp until the tack has stoped.
4. sometimes I have even pushed the rudders over to hard so don't get to fast on it.

5. this may sound nuts but I have raced 16s and 18s starting in 1972 and have made an art of gibbing and or backwashing my sails in high winds.
Only gib if you need a bath, but backwashing can be done quite fast.
good luck
harvey

Here is how I tacked my H16 in heavy wind. Most of the time I was solo (I have a "heavy wind" build) so that may have made difference.

1) Fall off a bit to gain speed

2) Using gradual rudder inputs, begin turning into the tack. While doing this sheet the main in to keep your speed up.

3) Keep the jib backwinded. I had to cleat it since I was out of hands.

4) As you come head on to the wind let out about 6" of main sheet, maybe more depending on your situation.

5) Immediatly after this move to the new windward side of the boat.

6) Leave the jib backwinded until the main battens "pop" across (you will actully hear them do this). Then, bring the jib over. Do not over sheet, you want it to have some shape to help accelerate you.

7) You may have to let out more of the main at this point. I found this to be true especially in high winds.

Once you start moving forward again fall off some to gain speed, the head up to your course and trim the sails appropriately.

I am not a racer. Most of my H16 time is in the ocean off the coast of Salem and Marblehead, MA. My tacks were not always lightnig fast, but I did get around 98% of the time. Much of tacking the H16 has to do with timing.

_________________
Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO

This all sounds so eerily simliar to what I was doing. I suppose it's one of those "nuance" things that's all about feel, when I'm just trying to stay alive. I guess I'll just have to spend more time out in howling gales to get the feel for it. Much thanks.

Tacking in high wind...

If you are able to get head to wind and the jib is back winded...

Keep the main very loose. Perhaps even lift the boom with your shoulder as you crawl under it to force the main out more. Let the jib bring the bow clear around and well onto the new tack angle (well below your intended new point of sail). Release the jib and re-sheet on the new tack. Bring the main in... very slowly... to get some forward motion and steerage before sheeting the main harder.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

One thing that no one has really talked about is crew and skipper position. On a roll tack you want the skipper and crew on the back corner of the old windward side (be careful or else you'll go over backwards). This will lift the bows of the boat up some, thus reducing the amount of drag from pushing the hulls through the water. The boat will pivot on that back corner. Once you’re through the wind the crew needs to move diagonally across the tramp and should sheet in the jib for the new tack.

The other thing that will send you back in irons is sheeting in the main too soon. Make sure that the jib has been sheeted in and that you’re moving on your new tack (i.e. the boat has momentum in the direction that you want to go). If you sheet in the main first it will turn you back up wind and into irons.

Pick up Rick White’s book “Catamaran Sailing for the 90’sâ€

What does harvey mean by "back washing the sails?" I have never heard of this before.