I wanted to make two points with this thread.

1st--You can't steer with the helm until the boat starts moving.
So backing up is controlled by the sails. If you back the main,
the boat will start to turn away from the boom. So you have
to gybe the main over to steer it back before the helm will
respond. If you don't gybe the main over and back it on
the other side, you will not be able to sail backwards, the
boat will fall off and power up and start going forward. In
tight quarters this could be a disaster.

2nd--You need to keep your speed down. If you go too fast
the helm will be ripped out of your hands.

By controlling your speed and using the sails, you can sail
backwards for any distance and weave your way through a
mooring field.


DSK wrote

Bart Senior wrote:
Oz,

You don't explain how it is done.

I can explain how I do it... amking sure that the tiller is secureley
amidships, I step from the dock onto the bow giving a sharp push. The
boat goes straigh backwards while I walk aft, then put the helm over to
bring the boat onto a tack to clear the dock.


Based on your description, it doesn't sound like you
back up any distance, but simply spin it around.

He'd have to back up approximately 30'. One Etchells boat length


There are two things you need to know to back up a
sloop for several boatlenghts off a mooring. Do you
know what they are?

I don't know your definitions, but to back a boat up under sail you need
to know how mush sternway you need before the helm responds, and how
much force it is going to generate due to being unbalanced going astern.
You also need to know how quickly it's going to spin when you start
backing the sails.

I like to back the jib to first one side, then quickly to the other
side. This gets the boat moving straight back and doesn't stick the boom
out where it catches on things.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King