Heavy air tacking:
I got Rick’s tacking video a few weeks ago and it’s helped our tacking a bunch in the 14 and, now that Summer has started, in the 16. I liked the part about ‘flying’ the jib through the tack but I can’t make it work in heavy air ( as in Rehoboth last weekend). Do you need to do a true backwind in traveler down-raked back conditions? Am I missing something?
The problem is that when we try it in windy conditions we get stuck too close to the wind and can’t bear off onto the new tack.
In heavy stuff the boat stops right away so you need to get all you can out of your boat momentum without pushing so hard that the rudder stalls. Just a touch of delay moving the jib over is all you should need. If the boat doesn't start to take right off don't forget to reverse the rudders when you start backing up.
When the wind is light to medium you can sail the jib through if your touch on the helm is good.
I haven't watched Ricks video. Was it on board boats or 16's? Board boats shouldn't need the jib at all to get through a tack.
cheers
Bill
right with bill. also you can look for less wave action, wait for a smaller set if you can. then pick a crest to begin your pivot, turn going downhill, be smooth, keep the rudders aligned, and smoke em! my experience is to sheet in hard as you begin to tack,keep the rudders aligned with the arc you want to carve, let the main out 4-5 ft of sheet after head to wind until you are pointing where you want to go, swap the jib leads just as the jib starts to backwind on the new tack. wait till you start picking up speed on the new tack before sheeting the main. if the rudders are stalling straighten them as you ease the main to get going.