mmiller wrote:
That is a tough one... You would be in a dangerous position sailing down wind when sheeted in. Any turn or wind shift could make the sail gybe and fill and either flip you or round you up hard.
Here is what I do when backing off a beach or back onto a beach:
Get as close as possible to your beaching spot and directly up wind from it... and round up to stop. Sheet the main all the way out and raise the rudders. Hop onto the bow and grab the jib clew (sheeted all the way out). By back-filling the jib... holding the clew out equal with the bows you can sail the boat onto the beach. The more forward the jib clew the more the boat will turn away from the side you are holding the jib on. By easing the clew aft a bit the boat will steer towards the side you are on.
If on the port bow... holding the jib clew well forward of the bow drives the sterns to starboard. holding the clew a bit more aft will steer the boat to port.
Rudders have to stay up! Weight on the boat forward and sterns up.
Practice in open water... balance standing on the bow tips is key. You can use the jib for balance.
Can you perform this in a 2-3' (or more) hard breaking surf without the boat getting out from underneath you?
Here's another idea that works incredibly on my TI:
Keep a small drift chute with a 15' lead and a carabiner tucked into the tramp. Get close to the breakers, round up, sheet out the sails, pull up the rudders, then take out the righting line, and using it as a yoke, clip the drift sock lead to it, then kick back and coast your way onto the beach.