TACKING or going about is putting
the bow through the
wind.
Helmsman says 'READY
ABOUT' and the crew uncleats the sheet, without easing it and says'READY'.
The helmsman says 'LEE-OH' and pushes the tiller over and the crew
releases the sheet.
As the boat
goes through the wind the crew moves to the other side and starts
pulling in the sheet by taking a turn on the winch. The helmsman also
changes sides keeping the helm over.
The
helmsman can help the crew by slowing the turn (giving a luff) allowing
most of the sheet to be pulled in before the sail fills. Extra turns are
put on the winch and the sheet tensioned.
GYBING
Putting the stern through the wind.
The
helsman says 'STAND BY TO GYBE' and the crew prepares the new sheet and says 'READY'
The helmsman puts the wind on one quarter and the boom on the other by hardening
(pulling in) the mainsheet.
The helmsman says 'GYBE-OH' and
turns the stern through the wind. As the boom comes across the
main-sheet is released letting the friction in the blocks slow the boom
down and the tiller is centred to slow the turn. The crew releases the
old sheet and pulls in the new.
When the boom is safely across the new course is steered and the main trimmed by pulling in the mainsheet. The crew trims the headsail for the new course.
ALWAYS MIND YOUR HEAD AS THE
BOOM SWINGS ACROSS THE BOAT.
POLING
OUT THE JIB
With the wind astern the
jib is often held out with a spinnaker or whisker pole.
1 Main and jib are
sheeted in on a broad reach and the DOWNHAUL is connected to the pole
while it is still stowed on deck.
2. Clip the pole to the
mast keeping the front end on deck.
3. Clip on the UPHAUL.
4 Rig the AFTER GUY
through a block right aft and outside everything.
5. With the pole
end still on deck clip the LAZY JIB SHEET into the pole jaws.
6. Lift the pole with the
UPHAUL to the height of the jib clew.
7. Haul the pole
back until it nearly touches the shrouds.
8. Tighten the DOWNHAUL.
9 The pole is now fixed
in the right position held by three lines.
10. The jib is still on
the same side as the main, so the crew go back to the cockpit and pull
in on the new sheet bringing the jib across until its clew is at the
pole end.
The main boom can be held
out with a PREVENTER. (Stops the boom crashing across in an accidental
gybe).
STEERING
The tiller (A) is moved
AW4V from the direction you want to turn. The force of the water on the
rudder (B) pushes the stern across and the boat roughly pivots about a
point just aft of the mast (C). Here we might hit the wall with the
stern!
A
wheel is moved IN
THE SAME direction as you want
to go.
COMPASS COURSE When there
are no landmarks the
boat is steered by compass.
The compass always STANDS
STILL pointing North while the boat swings around it The LUBBER LINE (A)
represents the centre line of the boat. Compasses
are usually read trom the top as with the BINNACLE TYPE (note the card markings
and the position of the Lubber Line) or from behind like the BULKHEAD TYPE (note
how the card markings
are reversed and the Lubber Line is the other side).
To turn the boat from North
to 030° STEER THE LUBBER LINE around
to the number. With a bulkhead compass 'push
the titter towards the number you want. This may a confusing but is much
simpler when you try it.
STEERING
When
you're on the correct course, find something ahead that lines up with a
piece of the boat. This saves always staring at the compass.
But,
don't get transfixed by your steering mark and ignore what is going on
around you. ALWAYS keep a good lookout all around especially behind you.
STEERING TO WINDWARD
(Towards the wind or 'ON THE WIND')
With the sails trimmed correctly the helmsman must guard against the
wind getting on the other side of the sail.
The first indication of this is the front of the mainsail or jib
starts to belly or back so steer the bow away from
the wind.
STEERING OFF THE WIND
(Away from the wind)
Here the helmsman must not let the wind get on the other side of
the sail or it will gybe violently as above.
The first indication of this is the back of the jib lifting. Steer
the bow towards the wind.
(With a tiller push it towards the boom)
IS
HE GOING TO HIT US?
Does
the background move from behind him?
Always
warn the skipper of any approaching boats. Don't assume they've seen you
or know the rule of the road. (You know how some people drive on the
road!)
If
vessel maintains the same bearing to you, there will be a collision.
Check with a compass or line him up with a stanchion. Also see if the
background is moving.
Always
keep a good look out all around -especially astern and behind the genoa.
Modern ships travel at high speeds, so this can.
...
turn into a huge container ship travelling at over 30 knots and could be
on top of you in less than 10 minutes.
At
night it's hard to judge distance and easy to convince yourself this is
only a small fishing fleet with their deck lights on...
... but, one could be a very fast moving cruise ship ablaze
with lights that could be on top of you in a matter of minutes.
In poor visibility, it is often very hard to tell which way a ship is going
and it is even harder for him to see you. So, keep the skipper informed
of any nearby shipping.
At night the relationship between the ship's two white masthead lights,
together with its port and starboard lights show in which direction it
is travelling.
Various combinations of coloured lights mean different things -- even that he
can't manoeuvre to get out of your way ...
and near the shore these lights can get lost in the background SO KEEP
AN EVEN BETTER LOOK OUT AT NIGHT.
WEATHER FORECASTS
These are available on local radio, television, VH F radio or by teleph
National newspapers publish weather maps and a NAVTEX teleprint to your boat.
The most common source of weather information is the BBC are broadcast at set
times each day on the radio.
BEAUFORT SCALE WIND FORCE
DESCRIPTION
WIND SPEED IN KNOTS
1
Light airs, ripples
Drifting conditions
1-3
2
Light
breeze, small wavelets
Both need large sails to catch breeze
4-6
3
Gentle
breeze, crests begin to break
Large headsails & full mainsails
7-10
4
Moderate,
small waves becoming larger, frequent white crests
Reduce headsails and full main (B) might start to reef
11-16
5
Fresh
breeze, moderate waves
many white crests, spray
Reduce headsails and (B) starts to reef
17-21
6
Strong
breeze, large
waves, white foam crests
Less sail
22-27
7
Near
gale, sea heaps up, white
foam, breaking waves blown in streaks
Both under reefed mains with small jibs
28-33
8
Gale,
moderately high waves, breaking crests, foam streaks
Deep reefed mains, storm jib on (B)
34-40
9
Severe
gale, high
waves, crests tumbk' spray affects visibility
(A) Storm jib & trysail, storm jib
only on (B)
41-47
10
STORM Veryhigh waves with long breaking
crests.
Survival conditions.
48-55
REMEMBER
— This scale was devised for large sailing vessels and each figure only refers
to an AVERAGE speed. So gusts well up into the next force can be expected at
times.
