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No, not cattle, but my 'M', in a gust. I'm after some advice as to what went wrong and how I can do better next time.

I was out the other day, sailing on my own, in a fairly gusty breeze, on flat water up a wide estuary. [The Tamar for those that know it], I had the mainsail reefed, and the standard jib fully out and was sailing on a broad reach, centre board all the way down and, of course for the avoidence of doubt, fully ballasted.

I was picking my way through the moorings with the jib and main sheets in the jammer, in about a force 3 - 4, gusting to a 5 maybe, and got hit by a gust as I was steering downwind of of a moored boat, and between another moored boat slightly further downwind of me, when a gust came along and I rounded up sharply, and with nothing I could do with the rudders to bear away again. Now normally, this wouldn't have mattered too much, but it was only luck that I didn't go smack bang into the moored boat [a 35 foot Cat] and do some serious damage in those conditions, so guys, where was I going wrong and what should I do next time I'm out in those conditions?

Ease the Sheets

J

It's as easy as that is it?

Yep, as Highlander posted; sheet out.

In the conditions you describe, a reefed main and standard jib should have worked well. Even so, a quick hand on the mainsheet is necessary. As you sailed in the lee of the anchored boats, you were somewhat sheltered, but out of the wind shadow, a gust can hit with unexpected force that can only be controlled by quickly sheeting out to bring the boat back on her feet. Once you get the hang of it, it’s a lot of fun!

Depower the sails!!
Let the main out to drop power/speed.
Ease/trim the main back in to pick up speed once you have turned your boat to the direction you want to sail.

ditto for easing the sheets...
I also find that reducing centerboard helps a huge ammount

The other alternative to easing the sheets is to buy lots of bumpers and line them up all around the boat.

I originally after purchase found my 26X forestay wound out to maximum length.Gusts would round it up to a stage where it was uncontrollable and overpowering the rudders.After shortening to minimum forestay length..... all problems solved...still has some weather helm for safety but is now controllable even to the extent that my autopilot seems to handle it fine.

Fast way to do it is to ease off the main sheet spilling the wind. You should have hand on the Main sheet line during these gusts.
The jib will back wind the main and that's OK, just don't do a hard rudder over to windward as this may cause you to Jibe and can knock you down if another gust happens as you went thru the Jibe without releaseing jib sheet.
As you get experience you will head up to spill the wind and back off as it blows Thur.
Becomes natural after a few trips in blows.
Dave

kitcat wrote:No, not cattle, but my 'M', in a gust. I'm after some advice as to what went wrong and how I can do better next time.

I was out the other day, sailing on my own, in a fairly gusty breeze, on flat water up a wide estuary. [The Tamar for those that know it], I had the mainsail reefed, and the standard jib fully out and was sailing on a broad reach, centre board all the way down and, of course for the avoidence of doubt, fully ballasted.

I was picking my way through the moorings with the jib and main sheets in the jammer, in about a force 3 - 4, gusting to a 5 maybe, and got hit by a gust as I was steering downwind of of a moored boat, and between another moored boat slightly further downwind of me, when a gust came along and I rounded up sharply, and with nothing I could do with the rudders to bear away again. Now normally, this wouldn't have mattered too much, but it was only luck that I didn't go smack bang into the moored boat [a 35 foot Cat] and do some serious damage in those conditions, so guys, where was I going wrong and what should I do next time I'm out in those conditions?

Kitcat,

How much were you heeling? This could be a key indicator to prevent future roundups. I find I start to RU around 38 +\- degrees. Thus I get ready to spill some wind...ease the main sheet...when I get over 30 degrees. I just make sure my hand and the sheet don't get too far away from each other.

And if I am easily hitting 30 then it is definitely time to get in the reef. And if i hit 35 I will roll in almost half my 150 genny.

And finally I try to avoid being too close to expensive things...like other boats...if I am heeling very much at all.

Good luck.

Jim

Rule of thumb..
If its blowing hard and gusting - keep one hand on the main sheet.

I have a wind meter on board and I find a gust about 17-18 knts will send her rounding up. Ida sailor rudders helped somewhat

A lot of good advice here. When sailing in gusty/variable winds, keep one hand on the mainsheet. Also, bartmac's advice is spot on. what he is referring to is, mast rake. If it is to much aft, you will experience weather helm. If you are having to turn the wheel to leeward when you heel 10-20 degrees, you have too much mast rake. A mild weather helm is desirable and will cause you to round-up, before you capsize.

~Rich

A tit-tat point that has nothing to do with the question, but M's have a daggerboard not a CB. Mast rake on X's has been a heavily discussed topic but haven't heard so much about on the M. My X mast is almost vertical and as I have a cabintop traveler I often am not near the mainsheet but have found I can steer through 90 percent of windgusts without problem. I applaud you for reefing, something I rarely do but often regret.

Newell

When ever I am in tight quarters I always have my engine down and running to avoid the crash.

Bob