I just had to do this last weekend into 16 knots of wind. No wind vane or auto tiller on mine either. It was a combination of getting into the wind, locking the wheel, running to the main a bit, and then running back to the wheel. It was an absolute mess. That might have been my most exhausting day at sail in my life.
Still sailing, and I just added an autopilot :) The videos take a lot of time to make. I used them in the beginning as motivation to force myself to get out there and do it. That worked. Wish I had the energy to make more, but don't at this point.
Alt no motor ... sail close hauled to establish way. Drop tiller or wheel. Boat will round and self tack thru the wind fall off and self tack again ... some boats three tacks depending on wind and carry. Skipper makes way to the mast on first tack, drop main on second tack. Boat will fall off the wind a lay abeam very slowly drifting while you secure the sail. Variable are how well your boat carries momentum, wind speed, and tightness of sheeting. As in heaving to, practice will improve results. But this works like a charm on many boats and you do not need to rely on an auto pilot or engine and usually take far less sea room to execute.
Sounds like an interesting technique. Thanks for sharing it! Re: heaving to, I have been having trouble with it of late when there is a reasonable amount of wind (eg 4 or 5). Boat ends up moving too quickly. I think I need to get the boat closer to the wind (about 45 degrees), rather than with wind abeam. Probably need to pull in the main a bit, or have tiller further over, but not sure.
Liked again for the same reasons I liked the previous clip. So, you're Drew. I hope you are still having fun out there.
I just had to do this last weekend into 16 knots of wind. No wind vane or auto tiller on mine either. It was a combination of getting into the wind, locking the wheel, running to the main a bit, and then running back to the wheel. It was an absolute mess. That might have been my most exhausting day at sail in my life.
Still sailing, and I just added an autopilot :) The videos take a lot of time to make. I used them in the beginning as motivation to force myself to get out there and do it. That worked. Wish I had the energy to make more, but don't at this point.
Alt no motor ... sail close hauled to establish way. Drop tiller or wheel. Boat will round and self tack thru the wind fall off and self tack again ... some boats three tacks depending on wind and carry. Skipper makes way to the mast on first tack, drop main on second tack. Boat will fall off the wind a lay abeam very slowly drifting while you secure the sail. Variable are how well your boat carries momentum, wind speed, and tightness of sheeting. As in heaving to, practice will improve results. But this works like a charm on many boats and you do not need to rely on an auto pilot or engine and usually take far less sea room to execute.
Sounds like an interesting technique. Thanks for sharing it! Re: heaving to, I have been having trouble with it of late when there is a reasonable amount of wind (eg 4 or 5). Boat ends up moving too quickly. I think I need to get the boat closer to the wind (about 45 degrees), rather than with wind abeam. Probably need to pull in the main a bit, or have tiller further over, but not sure.
I have sailed all my life and still cannot singlehandadly do slick job of it. A bit like you really.
Looks like it went ok considering no autopilot. Still sailing?