N1EE wrote:
You are the sole watch keeper, at night,
sailing along close hauled in 25 knots
of wind. The helm is lashed. Suddenly
a squall line comes through and you are
taken aback, and find yourself hove-to
under full sail.

And this shift didn't wake up anybody else on board?


What do you do to get underway again?

I'd probably unlash the helm and gybe around, depending on the boat &
the sea state.


Brien Alkire wrote:
If you're hove-to then somehow the helm was thrown over (unless you mean
you're in irons?). The boat should be oscillating between close hauled with
a backed jib and head to wind.

Depends... in general I'd agree that it's unlikely a boat will heave-to
steadily with the helm lashed (or locked) at a setting for close-hauled
on the opposite tack.

.... Let it fall off onto the new tack, bring the
jib over, get some speed and tack again. If you absolutely don't have
anyone around to help with moving the headsail then you can drop or luff it
once you're settled on the new back and sail by main alone.


Not a bad idea as long as it's a rig where the headsail will blow
cleanly through the foretriangle and not catch on anything. It's still
likely to be slower than gybing around IMHO.

Another good answer is to drop the jib and gain way on the new tack,
then tack and re hoist. This would be one time when a roller furler
would be nice!

Fresh Breezes- Doug King