Blackwell Sailing - Boats, Bits and Bobs

Rudderless Sailing

2006-07-12T06:19:00.000-07:00

RUDDERLESS SAILING

best in consistent wind; start practicing in light winds and build up to stronger ones

don’t over-react

start ‘hove-to’

reef if f4 or more

c/b about ½ way (GP14 less in water)

crew, or crew and helm weight distribution is key – decide if it’s helm only sailing and balancing the boat, or if it’s a team effort; if the former, crew sit forr’ard, motionless in centre so as not to upset balance or trim

if helm only is sailing, tie jib sheets together for easier handling by helm remove rudder

tight jib and loose main with crew on opposite side from sails turns boat away from wind

tacking is easier letting jib fly and handing mainsail only
weight on same side as sails makes boat point towards wind

Capsize Drill

2006-07-12T06:17:00.000-07:00

CAPSIZE DRILL

in single-handers, if a capsize to leeward, it’s possible (and quicker) to climb out to windward and right boat before you’re in water

else always right a capsized boat with your back to the wind – avoids it righting on top of you
stay with the boat – especially if you cannot right it

RYA ‘scoop’ method works but is slow

in total inversion, worst case scenario is when people are trapped under hull, but it is not dangerous: it is relatively warm – no wind chill factor it is light – refracted through water there is air through c/b casing you can hear what’s happening outside you can talk through c/b casing to outside helpers/crew

if all are under, one person should get out; take care not to trap buoyancy aid under gunwhale/mast or equipment, may = drowning:

best method of exit is: lie back, hands over head and grasp gunwhale head should be up at all times try to lift gunwhale over your body to your feet – this will propel you out from under the side of the hull

depending on circumstances, ie if safety boat in attendance, get other members out one by one – most nervous first – and ensure they are transferred to safety boat or that they stay with hull – if necessary, tie them to it

if no help is at hand, get assistance of another volunteer and try to right boat by scoop method, ensuring members remain inside hull to be scooped but that they refrain from clinging on to hull/seats/spars above them (which keeps hull upturned and counters any righting effort)
bounce boat, and/or lift transom corner to break the vacuum formed under the foredeck

centre-plate of Beaufort may well slide back down into its casing creating a lower centre of gravity and no righting lever outside the hull; once boat is recovered to half inverted position, crew should swim to c/b case and push centre-plate fully out for helm to stand on

with Whammels, (= no centre-board) helm needs a sheet or halyard to lean his feet/body against side – normally hull rights fairly easily but hull may be slimy and offer poor foot holding

if righting efforts fail, or a member starts panicking, it may be necessary to re-enter the hull to re-gather strength and/or reassure members/de-fuse the situation;

each crew should carry some method of contacting help – ie mobile phone; depending on relative warmth of water compared to outside wind, being under the hull will normally be safer than being outside, but rescuers need to know how many people are under the hull awaiting rescue

Ten Tips for Taking Charge of a Whammel Boat

2006-07-12T04:36:00.000-07:00

1. Ensure all equipment is on board and alert the sailing instructor if anything is missing or faulty.

2. Have a knife and a whistle about your person. Spares to be kept in the blue safety sack to be attached to the boat.

3. The boat must have minimal first aid and a survival bag on board: triangle bandage and wound dressing. Again, to be kept in the safety sack.

4. When under engine, a volunteer/instructor must sit opposite the sailing member to correct course if appropriate and reach the kill cord is necessary.

5. Encourage the helm to sit with back to wind. The instructor should, whenver possible, sit opposite. (RYA recommended teaching position)

6. Encourage the crew to balance and trim the boat rather than follow your instinct to do it.

7. Ensure a competant crew on the helm when raising or lowering sail and avoid spars landing on crew.

8. If other Whammel boat is in trouble (gear failure or client problem) or capsized: drop sails, start engine and stay in vicinity to offer assistance.

9. Rotate clients regularly (eg. 2 tacks/10 minutes each on tiller)

10. Give a lot of praise and encouragment and try not to pounce on mistakes (another RYA tip)