Hello from Pensacola. I lead a Sea Scout (Ship 609, BSA) unit here in Pensacola and we are the very happy recipients of a donated Prindle 19 that we've sailed about a dozen times. We cannot tack this thing with any consistency. Had it out yesterday in Pensacola Bay in ~ 20kts breeze and had an absolute blast reaching back back and forth, but had to jibe every time. I'd welcome any pointers, video links, or recommendations on instructional materials.
thanks, Mark

Hi Mark,

It helps to use the sails to help steer. Let the main out, I normally do about 2 arm lengths on the 20. Don't let the crew blow the jib too early. As the boat comes around, put some power back into the jib first, then sheet the main in. I sometimes like to steer down into a hotter angle initially to get some speed back up.

Moving the crew weight to the rear of the boat can help lift the bows out of the water and help with some speed loss through the tack.

--
Greenville SC

Offering sails and other go fast parts for A-class catamarans
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Hello Mark,

Try to point as high as possible without losing to much speed,
ease out the main and tack aggressively at the same time.
Leave the jib cleated the whole time and wait till the wind pushes
the boat over the other side, only then uncleat the jib
and sheet the jib in on the other side,
bear of a little while sheeting in the main.

When this doesn't work, let go all the sheets and let the boat
drift backwards, use the rudders to go about and at the same
time have the lightest crew member hold the jib into the wind.
This will take some time and practise but it works.
When the boat is over, sheet in the jib first, bear of a little and
sheet in the main.

Hope this helps,

André

--
Tornado (80's Reg White)
Prindle 18-2 (sold)
Dart 16 (hired and hooked)
13 mtr steel cutter (sold)
Etap 22, unsinkable sailing pocket cruiser.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands
--

When sailing any cat you need to drive the boat thru the tack vs shoving the rudders over and trying to spin the boat like you can do on a mono hull. If you shove the rudders over you stall the inside hull and force the outside hull to go around it. By driving the boat thru the tack you maintain some boat speed. Easing the main will settle the boat (just like lifting your accelerator and touching the brakes in your car to take a corner) add rudder to make the tack (again think driving - you dont snatch your steering wheel to go around the corner) leave the jib alone but control the main - pull in the sheet and then let it out as it comes across the boat . As you come through the wind the jib will backwind and pull the bows on to the new heading - release the jib and sheet in for the new tack.

Good Luck

--
Lee - On the BIG Lake in MS

Harstil Kaulua 31 - Current Project Boat
Cal 25 - What ? Time to freshen it up again??
MC Scow 16 (1 in the water and 1 parts/project) SOLD
Capri 22 - What do you mean you wont deliver it??
Chrysler Pirateer 13 - new addition to the fleet
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Thank-you all very much. We'll be back out on the water practicing again soon and with a lot more confidence that it can be done! Yours in Scouting, Mark

I don't like these methods nearly as much as the roll-tack style. IMO, you're better off, and much faster, not to backwind the jib, but to sail it and let it do the work. Just keep your butt parked on the 'old' tack until the jib powers up.

--
Rob
OKC
Pile of Nacra parts..
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Here is a little back ground on what your sails are doing to steer the boat. Your main when pulled in tight will make the boat want to steer into the wind. The jib will make the boat want to steer away from the wind. When these two sails are in balance the boat wants to go straight.
Now regarding tacking from a reach to reach, my guess is that the main was not pulled in (or sheeted tight) enough to get the boat to sail close hauled. Given the heavy air is it likely you had the main was out a considerable amount.
Steps for tacking, trim in your sails to a close hauled position, that is all sails are pulled in tight and your are sailing as close to the wind as you can (45 degrees). At the point you want to tack, blow the jib, this will start the boat turning into the wind as the main sail will turn the boat as the jib is not trying to pull the bow off the wind. Pay attention to the boat moving through the wind. (If you pull the jib across too fast it can stop the boat turning) The jib should be the first sail pulled in after the tack. As the boat goes through head to wind, the main sheet needs to be eased. Try a couple of feet until your tacks get better. By easing the main and trimming in the jib on the new tack both sails will be telling the boat to bare away or sail away from close hauled.
The Prindle 19 is a very good boat and can tack very fast. Good luck and have fun.

Cheers,

Quote

Now regarding tacking from a reach to reach, my guess is that the main was not pulled in (or sheeted tight) enough to get the boat to sail close hauled. Given the heavy air is it likely you had the main was out a considerable amount.

In heavy air you should sheet the main tight and travel out - a loose main would cause the sail to invert in spots, and flog and swing around....