DSK wrote:
Walt wrote:

I've found that a light touch on the tiller really helps when sailing
backwards.


But you also want to keep a firm grip, since the force tends to yank it
hard over rather than tending towards center.

Ok, I guess this could be confusing. By "light touch" I mean don't over
steer, not to hold it like the Queen of England holds a cucumber sandwich.

... When you're moving backwards, putting the tiller hard over just
acts as a break

True when moving forwards as well.

Yep.

.... and the boat may spin around the stern in either direction
regardless of which way you point the tiller.

Never had that happen to me but i can believe it, especially with some
chop afecting the boat also.

I see it all the time with beginners trying to back away from the dock.
Since the tiller works backwards when you're sailing backwards, they
initially push the tiller the wrong way, the boat starts turning the
wrong way, and then they try to compensate by putting the tiller hard
over the other way. The effect is that they've just applied a sea
anchor attached to the stern, and the boat - now on the wrong side of
the wind - swings around the wrong way.

What techniques would you recommend ... to avoid getting
stuck in irons?

Stay on shore.

Any particular video games you recommend instead of sailing?

The ASA version of whack-the-weasel. Hey, we're playing it now!

//Walt