Tacking on Headers (Newbie question)
 

It looks like I'll be sailing in Catalina 27's and 250's for the next
year.

I've been reading a lot about:
Tiny boat: Take every wind shift.
Huge boat: Not always! With the time/distance lost in turning a large
boat this may not be best.

So what would be the general rule for 25-27 footers?

What rules/guidelines do I use to learn properly the best way or
frequency or wind shift arc to tack?

Tacking on Headers (Newbie question)
 

Richard wrote:
It looks like I'll be sailing in Catalina 27's and 250's for the next
year.

I've been reading a lot about:
Tiny boat: Take every wind shift.
Huge boat: Not always! With the time/distance lost in turning a large
boat this may not be best.

So what would be the general rule for 25-27 footers?

What rules/guidelines do I use to learn properly the best way or
frequency or wind shift arc to tack?

Richard,

The guidelines you are looking for not only vary by class, but actually
by individual boat. How well you can tack is a large part of the
equation.

This is exactly why the tactician needs to track true wind vector.
Sometimes what looks like a header may just be a lost of true wind
speed, this will bring the apparent vector forward.

You are going to have to learn what the boat and crew can do and what
your local water typically throws at you.

Good Luck Guy,
Matt Colie

Tacking on Headers (Newbie question)
 

On Oct 18, 8:26 am, Matt Colie wrote:
Richard wrote:
It looks like I'll be sailing in Catalina 27's and 250's for the next
year.

I've been reading a lot about:
Tiny boat: Take every wind shift.
Huge boat: Not always! With the time/distance lost in turning a large
boat this may not be best.

So what would be the general rule for 25-27 footers?

What rules/guidelines do I use to learn properly the best way or
frequency or wind shift arc to tack?

Richard,

The guidelines you are looking for not only vary by class, but actually
by individual boat. How well you can tack is a large part of the
equation.

This is exactly why the tactician needs to track true wind vector.
Sometimes what looks like a header may just be a lost of true wind
speed, this will bring the apparent vector forward.

You are going to have to learn what the boat and crew can do and what
your local water typically throws at you.

Good Luck Guy,
Matt Colie

All I know now is that the wind comes from the West about 300 days a
year and from the SSW about 40 days! But I have no clue about the
degree and frequency of shifts. That will be my mission for the next
few weeks.

Tacking on Headers (Newbie question)
 

"Richard" wrote...
So what would be the general rule for 25-27 footers?

What rules/guidelines do I use to learn properly the best way
or frequency or wind shift arc to tack?

The guidelines you are looking for not only vary by class, but actually
by individual boat. How well you can tack is a large part of the
equation.

You are going to have to learn what the boat and crew can do and what
your local water typically throws at you.

All I know now is that the wind comes from the West about 300 days a
year and from the SSW about 40 days! But I have no clue about the
degree and frequency of shifts. That will be my mission for the next
few weeks.

Best thing would be to set out a couple buoys (or use some that are already
there) and do some trial runs. Tack between them using several techniques
(1 port/1 stbd; 1 stbd/1 port; 2 or 3 shorter tacks; tack on every header
of 10 or 20 deg, etc). Use each technique several times, recording the
wind direction/speed at the start and finish each time. If you can record
or note time to tack and speed lost in each tack, that might be helpful.

Repeat the exercise several times over several days, plot the results on a
spreadsheet or graph paper, and decide what works best for you, your boat,
and your crew. If you can't tell from the data, it probably doesn't matter
to a degree you can calculate, and maneuvering among other boats will have
as much or more effect on your times.

Tacking on Headers (Newbie question)
 

Richard wrote:
On Oct 18, 8:26 am, Matt Colie wrote:
Richard wrote:
It looks like I'll be sailing in Catalina 27's and 250's for the next
year.
I've been reading a lot about:
Tiny boat: Take every wind shift.
Huge boat: Not always! With the time/distance lost in turning a large
boat this may not be best.
So what would be the general rule for 25-27 footers?
What rules/guidelines do I use to learn properly the best way or
frequency or wind shift arc to tack?
Richard,

The guidelines you are looking for not only vary by class, but actually
by individual boat. How well you can tack is a large part of the
equation.

This is exactly why the tactician needs to track true wind vector.
Sometimes what looks like a header may just be a lost of true wind
speed, this will bring the apparent vector forward.

You are going to have to learn what the boat and crew can do and what
your local water typically throws at you.

Good Luck Guy,
Matt Colie

All I know now is that the wind comes from the West about 300 days a
year and from the SSW about 40 days! But I have no clue about the
degree and frequency of shifts. That will be my mission for the next
few weeks.

Richard,

That would be exactly the plan. You will probably find that there is a
relatively "predictable" pattern to the wind shifts that occur in a
given wind range.

Then, if you know you are three minutes from the weather mark, you may
be better off to take the knock and sail it out to lay line or nearly so
.. That way when it comes back, you have it in the bank to round and set.

Matt

Tacking on Headers (Newbie question)
 

"Richard" wrote in message
ups.com...
It looks like I'll be sailing in Catalina 27's and 250's for the next
year.

I've been reading a lot about:
Tiny boat: Take every wind shift.
Huge boat: Not always! With the time/distance lost in turning a large
boat this may not be best.

So what would be the general rule for 25-27 footers?

What rules/guidelines do I use to learn properly the best way or
frequency or wind shift arc to tack?

It depends on the size of the shift. If its just a bullet. Its most likely
better to hold course as the wind will lift again quickly. If its a larger
shift ( like those found closer to shore) it is most likely better to tack.
With some shore lifts though it can be wiser to sail the knock for a short
time to give you a longer period in the lift that you will tack into.

DP

Tacking on Headers (Newbie question)
 

On Oct 18, 1:18 pm, "John Weiss" wrote:
"Richard" wrote...
So what would be the general rule for 25-27 footers?

What rules/guidelines do I use to learn properly the best way
or frequency or wind shift arc to tack?
The guidelines you are looking for not only vary by class, but actually
by individual boat. How well you can tack is a large part of the
equation.

You are going to have to learn what the boat and crew can do and what
your local water typically throws at you.
All I know now is that the wind comes from the West about 300 days a
year and from the SSW about 40 days! But I have no clue about the
degree and frequency of shifts. That will be my mission for the next
few weeks.

Best thing would be to set out a couple buoys (or use some that are already
there) and do some trial runs. Tack between them using several techniques
(1 port/1 stbd; 1 stbd/1 port; 2 or 3 shorter tacks; tack on every header
of 10 or 20 deg, etc). Use each technique several times, recording the
wind direction/speed at the start and finish each time. If you can record
or note time to tack and speed lost in each tack, that might be helpful.

Repeat the exercise several times over several days, plot the results on a
spreadsheet or graph paper, and decide what works best for you, your boat,
and your crew. If you can't tell from the data, it probably doesn't matter
to a degree you can calculate, and maneuvering among other boats will have
as much or more effect on your times.

I'll do that. There is a big orange balloon-looking buoy that's left
semi-permanently as the windward mark. All I'd need is a milk bottle
bouy downwind; where the club committee boat moors, call that the
committee boat, and practice in the actual course for the club.
I would think some different plans, like
1. Minimize tacking and go for the lay lines (should be the worst
times)
2. Tack on every header (no idea how often that would be yet, but I'll
find out.)
3. Something between 1 and 2 above.

....should give me some experience and ideas of what works.

Usually, there are only 4-6 boats in the class, and they seem to
spread out quickly, so if I sial my best course, that should be good
most of the time.