annacat wrote:
making a weird whale song w/ the rudders
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You need to simply shave a little off the back of your rudders.. There is a little bulge at the trailing edge of stock rudders that can be quickly removed with a pair of scissors opened up and used to shave both sides of the rudder at the same time... if that makes sense? Somtimes all that is required is filing the back edge of the rudder flat instead of a 'sharp' edge...
http://www.hobiecat.com/support/article ... h/hum.htmlviewtopic.php?f=13&t=34000 annacat wrote:
I had lots of trouble tacking. When I would gybe.. it was going through the turn spooky fast.
Ok.. gybe 'slower' by going as fast as possible... It will become totally not scary at all... Basically run with the wind until you are matching the wind speed as best you can... If you are coming from a broad reach this should be easy.. and you can even out sail the apparent wind and gybe entirely uneventfully with some luck and practice.. But when you have matched or are moving close to the wind speed... Then just very slowly turn... With enough space to turn you should just about be able to grab all that extra main sheet you have out... and move the main over by hand... Of course if the winds are shifty.. all bets are off... But you get the idea... It is all in the tiller... Just Run with the wind until you are ready to go... Just fight the urge to turn into the wind like you would pinching.. and you will be good to go... Running with the wind is boring when done right... just be mindful that the tiller isn't going to feel as responsive at that point of sail... But it is...
Just get your bridle fly's to drop straight down.. (no apparent wind) and slowly make your move...
annacat wrote:
Afterwards, my Harken 6:1 quit "clicking" & began to free wheel for the rest of the day (not sure if that was related).
On your lower block... Right above where the main sheet enters the block there should be a little thumb wheel... and on the stock Hobie hardware at least you can even see the ratcheting mechanism... It should be just a little flip of your thumb and you can change that from "freewheeling" to "ratcheting"...
The ratcheting can be a pain in light air... Or if you like the workout.. and want to be able to sheet out very quickly... whatever...
Your block might be a bit different from the hobie block... But I am sure it has the same feature... and heck... you could have broken it... but I doubt it...
annacat wrote:
Each time I tacked, I would end up in irons & get blown backwards. I started experimenting w/ sort of reverse steering to complete the tacks when this would happen. During one tack.. we went from irons to nearly capsized in about 2 seconds. Afterwards, my Harken 6:1 quit "clicking" & began to free wheel for the rest of the day (not sure if that was related).
What is the best way to tack in strong wind? Does the method change as the wind speed increases?
My problem in heavy wind with a heavy load on the Cat is always to turn to quickly .. I dunno... I still fight myself on that...... With a good crew you just play the weight shift game and no problems.. But sometimes inexperienced crews are bouncing all around trying to help out, and messing things up.. So when I take out new guys... and I am fixing to tack... I tell them to not touch anything or move UNTIL I tell them to move... I even surprise them if they wont behave... and often can complete the tack just fine because they end up right in the proper rhythm when I don't warn them...
Then you make sure you have enough speed sailing as close to the wind as possible... and slowly make the turn... Not to fast... especially in high wind... You will lose to much speed... Wait until you are about halfway through the tack to have the crew move... Then only when the tack is completed and you are certain you have not blown it... Then have them break the jib... When I am moving across the back of the boat during this process I am leaning back just a little bit further than a 'normal sailing position... trying to balance the boat with the bows just a little high... Moving some weight back helps the boat turn.... I break the main just after I start the turn before I pick up the stick that is bouncing along behind the boat in anticipation for the turn... just make sure you don't get to much weight to far back in really big gusty wind... The boat can "wheelie" if enough air gets under the tramp... as you know... It takes quite a bit.. but uuhhh.. yeah...... Just make the crew aware.. I have noticed also.. that depending on how the crew "gets up" to move... They can and will help you pull a big wheelie...
Then once the tack is complete... Just make sure you are moving forward... and don't get to excited to point it downwind to fast until you are ready... If you are not ready... just head up a little bit and "park" making sure not to lose all forward momentum until you are....
And don't fret to much about being stuck in irons.. With some practice... enjoying the moment instead of feeling like you are 'stuck'... Just back the boat up... Play with the rudders... and sometimes pull the main over to you... Using it to back you up... You will be moving in no time... Just don't fret about it... enjoy that as just part of the fun... Or heck.. a decent time to 'take a break' from the screaming speeds you just ran on that reach..