Hi everybody,

Ive been sailing monohulls all my life, am switching to an old prindle 18 Ive fixed up. Im interested in getting the hull up in the air. I understand I can control the heel of the boat with the sheet and rudder, but questune is this...if I want to drop the windward hull a bit (say I have the hull in the air, and its going a bit to far), is it better to control the heel with the sheet (let it out slightly) or the rudder? And if I use the rudder, do I turn the boat upwind to spill wind, or downwind to stall the sail? It seems turning the boat upwind causes the boat to heel for a moment due to centrifugal force, but turning downwind will stall the sail but also expose more 'flat' for the wind to push over.

I wanna do this...I can right the boat, no issues...just want to be able to 'work' the wind and boat to keep the hull in the air the longest.

thanks!

I may use a combination of both if a gust hits, but typically you should just sheet out a little if you want to maintain your course to the mark

I am amazed how many times I've saved it from what should have been counting fish with an aggressive push of the rudder, head upwind.
If you are flying a hull I usually keep the line uncleated, & let the ratchet hold most of the pull. Wear gloves so you can slip it rapidly through your hand. If it turns out I am constantly releasing sheet to stay upright, I travel out a bit.
I have the main cleat on my 5.7 set so that a pull from nearly any direction uncleats the line. Even if you are sliding down the tramp, give it a yank & let fly the sheet. Just make sure it is free, not wrapped around your leg! This makes it harder to cleat, especially from out on the wire, but it has saved a righting exercise many times.

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Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
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upwind - ideally you use the sheet, but because it works slower than pointing up with the rudder you need to be very careful to watch out for big gusts that could roll you

across the wind - you have no choice but to use the mainsheet

downwind - if you are trying to "wild thing" ideally you use the traveller, then pointing down with the rudder

thanks for the advice, guys, Ill let you know how it goes! anybody know where I can find a used prindle 18 jib? or a hobie 16 jib (its just a bit smaller, but it should work)?

One thing I learned is if you are trying to get upwind a minor adjustment with the tiller to point further upwind will both get you a couple things. One bring the hull back down some, two help maintain your speed, three help you get to where you are going. You can always let the sheet out, but you typically loose speed quicker, and don't make upwind progress as fast.

However if you on a reach across the wind and try to point higher with the tiller you may find more tipping moment since you may find more wind, in which case you may have been better off letting out the main sheet.

SebringSixSpeed - Nice Avatar

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Scott,
‘92 H18 w/SX wings
‘95 Hobie Funseeker 12 (Holder 12)
‘96/‘01/‘14 Hobie Waves
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Quote

One thing I learned is if you are trying to get upwind a minor adjustment with the tiller to point further upwind

I concur, if you are trying to point as high as possible, every time you get hit with a gust, you can temporarily point higher. As the gust passes, fall off to your original course.


--
Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
--