How do you get a Hobie 20 to tack?

For some reason I have a terrible time trying to get my H20 to complete a tack. Do I do anything with the traveler car? Do I pull in on my main sheet or do I let it out? Any tips on this? Any thoughts on how to manuver upwind in a narrow passage. I have to do this to get back to the ramp. I could do it if my boat would allow me to tack when needed, but if it takes a minute to tack I will get blown into the rocks.

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Wherever you go . . . There you are.

You'll get some good input right here!

Hey Zephyr, I've seen your posts and I think your best bet would be to get some local help. There's a ton of 20's in Div 3 that I think would be willing to give you a hand. I know your boat, and would be happy to assist you in person anytime here in Santa Cruz.

If the narrow passage you're talking about is Redwood City, I have a few locals that could meet you there.
Call anytime: (831) 359-5918
Jeremy

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I got to sail my boat last Friday and actually shreded a jib line, which I have now replaced. The Bay was very much like the ocean with the amount of wind we had here on that day, but I don't know if I am ready for ocean sailing yet if I take a minute every time I want to tack. Half the time I have to give up and just jibe.

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Wherever you go . . . There you are.

Come to Santa Cruz. My shop is right next to the launch ramp. Saturdays don't work, but Fridays do.
J

Hello Sean:

Unfortanately I am not fully recovered from my heart proceedure to call you up lately and see if we could go out but I should be able to soon

I would highly recommend that you come to the Kick Off Regatta in Santa Cruz on April 25 and 26 and hook up with a number of better 20 sailors than me. We all want to see you have fun on your boat.

- Dwight

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Dwight Manning
Hobie 20 #916 San Jose CA 2000 Alter Cup
Hobie 20 #16 San Jose CA (Jordan) 2000 Alter Cup
Hobie 18 #916 Santa Cruz CA 1989 Worlds Boat
Hobie 16 #16 San Jose CA (Jordan) 2005 Custom Main
Hobie 16 #54466 Calling Lake Alta Tequila sunrise

I might be able to do that in three of four weeks. I am supposed to work on Fridays, but can take them off occasionally. I will let you know ahead of time. Did you want to sail?

Sean (650) 483-9363

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Wherever you go . . . There you are.

Sure! I'll sail with you. If sailing doesn't work out, I can atleast help you rig it. My schedule is flexible during the week. Weekends don't work. Like Dwight said, definitely make it down for the Kick Off.

J

Try leaving the jib till the main comes across( backwinding ). Also as you go into the tack let some sheet out of the main. about 3 ft or so then as the main battens pop onto the other side send the jib across and sheet the main in. Always try to carry speed into the tack and make a smooth fluid motion in turning the tiller. A quick jerk on the tiller will stall the rudders and burn all your speed off.
April 18th and 19th we are having a fun sail at Woodward res in Oakdale. We have a few 20 sailors there and atleast one Tiger. If your still having trouble come on out and we would be happy to help you out.
Jeremy in Santa Cruz is also great for helping . Do you sail out of the same Marina as Phil on Sling Shot 2? HE is also a very good sailor.

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Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
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http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

Dwight hope all is well soon .
Our best for a speedy recovery.

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Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

Rich hit on the main point which is to let the main out a couple of feet. You want to do this when the boat is pointing into the wind. Keep the main in to help the point point up as you begin the turn. If you don't let out the main the boat will try and wind vane back into irons after the tack preventing you from gaining any speed. With the main out a bit you will be able to drive off and get some speed after the tack and then sheet back in. As a noob a couple of years ago I struggled with tacking the boat until I figured this out.

Hope this helps and hope to see you in Santa Cruz for kick off.

Mike

Mr. Spitz, Welcome to the forum. See you on the water this year?

J

The 20 is one of the easier cats to tack because of the dagger boards, symmetrical hulls, and efficient sail plan. It should not take you much practice to get the boat to turn pretty much on a dime.

Before entering the tack, make sure you're up to full speed with both main and jib fully sheeted in and not luffing- this is very important, otherwise the boat will stall before getting to head to wind. Pick a smooth patch of water to initiate your turn and ease the helm over slowly at first and turning gradually harder as the forward speed slows down. Keep both sails fully sheeted in and skipper & crew should move to the centerline of the boat. Just as the boat is approaching head to wind, begin easing out the recommended three or so feet of mainsheet (this will occur pretty much simultaneously with the popping of the main battens). If you ease out the mainsheet before passing through head-to-wind, you will probably stall. Keep the rudders turned over. Once you're fully past head-to-wind and on the new tack, have the crew release the jib from the old side and sheet in on the new side. At the same time, begin gradually pulling in the main sheet. Make sure you keep the bow off the wind at this point, otherwise you could round up and end up in irons.

If you goof up and end up in irons, back the rudders and sails and do a K-turn.

It probably sounds like a lot to keep track of, but after some practice, it will become second nature. I would suggest you go out and spend some time just practicing tacks in open water with your crew to get the timing down before trying to sail up a narrow channel.

sm

Zepher,

The most common problem, when moving from a mono to a cat, is stalling the rudders. When initiating the turn, do not jamb the tiller over, this will cause loss of flow across the rudders. That's a death nell to the cat tack. The leeward hull has a farther length to travel than the starboard hull to complete the tack.

Push the tiller firmly to 45 degrees, and keep it there, until you're on the new heading. Straighten out, get the jib sheeted in (to get rolling) and then pull on the main.

It won't take you long to get used to it. Congratulations on the new ride!

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I've often heard that you should sheet out a little in a tack, but can somebody explain the logic? All I can think is that if the center of pressure of the mainsail is aft of the center of the boat, as soon as you pass through the wind, a tight mainsheet will cause the wind to try to keep the boat from rotating further, instead causing it to weathervane back toward the wind...is that why? That would also explain why, as you said Mike, you don't let out the mainsheet until the bow passes through the wind, since up to that point, the weathervane effect is assisting--not inhibiting--your turn.

Do I have it right?

--Bob

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"I wonder why we don't have any LARGE craft advisories? Apparently we don't care about the big boats."

--George Carlin

If you back the jib then its almost guaranted to make it throught the tack. If you do find yourself in irons then center the tiller until you are moving backwards then back the tiller and off you go on new tack. Its important to tell your crew what to expect before hand! Have a team meeting before you set out if they are green. Show them how to work the jibs sheets and cleats. Since a lot of the tack is proper jib handling, success depends on the crew pulling it off. Stalled in irons with flapping sail drifting to shore is not the time for a tutorial. Most important is speed goin into the tack, no such thing as too much there.

One more tip for general sailing.... If you are sailing upwind in strong breeze and the hull is flying violently then ease the traveler about 3 to 4 inches. The 20 has a huge main, this small adjustment will really settle the boat down and you wont have to fight the mainsheet so much.

Ive gotten back into sailing after a long hiatus with the hobie 20 last year and have never had so much fun! The 20 is both demanding and rewarding, enjoy!