Yeah well the idea has merit... I use a triangular piece of blue poly tarp
.... cut, sewn and grommeted to fit on the split of my backstay while at the
mooring at times. Keeps tension on the mooring lines, keeps the boat from
dancing, and offers a bit of privacy as well. I only use it when the wind
is shifty since my boat isn't prone to swing much on a mooring anyway.

Never entered my mind to use it to keep the bow to the wind under
manuever... but I'll try it this year.

CM


"Silver" wrote in message
...

What you are missing is windage aft to counteract your bow windage at
low revs and reduced rudder effect.

Any extra windage abaft the centre of effort will help. One
surprisingly efficient trick is to set a small sail (an old dinghy jib
would do) on the backstay when you want to back in the conditions you
describe. You can use the topping lift if you have a rigid boom strut
or any other spare halyard - set doesn't matter.

Let it flap until you want to turn, then haul it to weather. It will
spin you round into the wind quite easily and you have perfect control
according to the amount of weight you put on the sheet (you only need
one) When you want to stop turning, let fly and drop the sail at your
leisure. A little practice in open water helps, as this is a powerful
way to turn the boat. Give it a try.


--
Silver