I've Forgotten How to Sail

[geospencer]

I've had my Compac 23/3 since the mid-90's but I haven't sailed it too much in the last four years (called back to active duty, drought causing Lake Norman to be too low, etc., etc.).  So now I'm retired and the lake is at full pond so I figured it was time to sail again.  But it's not going so good.

For instance, last week I was out in a pretty stiff breeze.  (Sailing with a jib and a full main.)  Whenever I would try to tack the boat would stall.  (So I would have to jibe and that was not fun in all that wind.)  I thought I had enough hull speed (three or four knots per the GPS) but there was a lot of chop.  I did notice that the rudder has a lot of slop and when I got back to the dock I realized that four sail slugs had blown out.  (They were 14 years old.  I guess it was time.)  Could those three things have contributed to my inability to tack?

I've been sailing for years (Flying Scot, Hunter, Compac 23/3) but I feel like I've forgotten how.

PS.  I've replaced the old sail slugs and I'm going to fix the rudder slop.

[Paul]

Geospencer:

Of course, you forgot the rule that states once you forget how to sail you must give up the boat to the first sailor to lay claim to it.  I call dibs!!

Really, you probably haven't "forgotten" how to sail.  There's probably a couple of factors that are playing here.  How's the condition of the bottom?  Are the sails blown out (too baggy)?  Are you using the original rudder?  Regarding the "forgotten" skills, were the sails properly trimmed?  A stalled sail looks pretty, but sails inefficiently.  It needs to be drawing.  You can easily tell if the telltales are telling you.

If all the above conditions are present and there's a chop, then you could easily feel you'd forgotten.  However, once you get back out there again, you'll find your skills. 

I'm up the road in Morganton.  There are several other CP owners in the Lake Norman area as well.  I can see a CP mess about in the future. 

By the way, welcome to the forum!

[geospencer]

Geospencer:

Of course, you forgot the rule that states once you forget how to sail you must give up the boat to the first sailor to lay claim to it.  I call dibs!!

Really, you probably haven't "forgotten" how to sail.  There's probably a couple of factors that are playing here.  How's the condition of the bottom?  Are the sails blown out (too baggy)?  Are you using the original rudder?  Regarding the "forgotten" skills, were the sails properly trimmed?  A stalled sail looks pretty, but sails inefficiently.  It needs to be drawing.  You can easily tell if the telltales are telling you.

If all the above conditions are present and there's a chop, then you could easily feel you'd forgotten.  However, once you get back out there again, you'll find your skills. 

I'm up the road in Morganton.  There are several other CP owners in the Lake Norman area as well.  I can see a CP mess about in the future. 

By the way, welcome to the forum!

The bottom is relatively clean.  I had the boat taken out of the water and repainted.  The sails aren't too bad.  The main is probably the worst and will be sent to be refinished this winter.  I guess I just need practice.

It would be nice to get together sometime.  When I sailed a Flying Scot there were always people to sail with.  I guess a CP appeals to a more "focused" group.

[Bob23]

Geo:
   I've had instances when my 23/2 was in a cranky mood and wouldn't readily come about. Seemed when the boat chop was up she didn't like that' I was taught that just before you throw over the tiller, fall off a bit to increase speed. It helps. Also, sometimes I backwind the jib when she's in danger of stalling. That works too.
   I have noticed, however, that with only the main up, she won't come about for nothin'.
   The flat blade rudder (original) doesn't help much either. This winter I'll reshape my flat blade into a foil rudder...too cheap to buy the Idarudder!
Maybe she's just testing you!
   Bob23 in NJ

[geospencer]

Geo:
   I've had instances when my 23/2 was in a cranky mood and wouldn't readily come about. Seemed when the boat chop was up she didn't like that' I was taught that just before you throw over the tiller, fall off a bit to increase speed. It helps. Also, sometimes I backwind the jib when she's in danger of stalling. That works too.
   I have noticed, however, that with only the main up, she won't come about for nothin'.
   The flat blade rudder (original) doesn't help much either. This winter I'll reshape my flat blade into a foil rudder...too cheap to buy the Idarudder!
Maybe she's just testing you!
   Bob23 in NJ

Thanks, I forgot about backwinding the jib.  (As I said, I think I've forgotten how to sail.)  And there was a lot of chop. 

Now I have to find out more about foil rudders.

[Craig Weis]

Your sailing too slow prior to attempting to come about.

[geospencer]

Your sailing too slow prior to attempting to come about.

I think you are right.  I guess I was close hauled (with very little speed) when I should have been on a beam reach.

[newt]

Compacs seem to need a little more speed to make the tac change. I have noticed that too. Just a little feature of the boat. No boat is perfect, but she is great in other ways. I put up with her foibles. Kinda like what my wife does with me. Does the Idarudder make a difference- I have heard that, but I will wear out my original before I find out. 

[BobK]

If you can come down to Lake Hartwell I would be happy to take you out on my CP23.  I sail every weekend.

[mrb]

Hello geospencer

Read your post and would like to add another oppinion.  First you probably really haven't forgot how to sail, just a little rusty and have to relearn some of the idiosyncrasy's of your boat.

Before deciding you can't tack without being on a beam reach think about some of the other suggestions given.  Baggy sails, think about having them reconditioned before buying new. What type of foresail, jib or Genoa.  Seems as if the 16's do better with a jenny.  Mines about 110%.  Makes a huge difference. Also look at your mast set up.  Again on the 16,s the mast must have a forward tilt to it.  Not as sporty looking as the old Baltimore schooners, but it works.  some of the 23 owners can give better advice on that.     How you run your jib sheets can will make a diff. too.  Again the 23 owners can tell you what works for them.
Check how your boat is loaded, does it set fairly even along the water line or is it heavily loaded at one end. Too much weight forward can bury the bow to deep and too much aft will raise the bow and it can act as a wind vane.

All said, have faith in your ability, ask questions and most importand sail and have fun.

mrb

[geospencer]

If you can come down to Lake Hartwell I would be happy to take you out on my CP23.  I sail every weekend.

Thanks, Bob.  I might take you up on that one of these days.

And thank all of you for all the encouragement! 

I've been out a few more times since my last post and things are much better!
 
In the first place there was a nice steady, stiff breeze the last time I went out.  My Compac seems happy in a steady breeze.

I replaced the four blown sail snails and that made a huge difference. 

The main sail is going to be sent out to be refurbished this fall.  (The jib and the genoa are fine because they've been out of the weather.)

I've been reading all of my old sailing books!

Life is good.

[Paul]

That's great news!  Sounds like things are on the mend. 

[pattyhazz]

Geo:
    If you just launched your boat and stepped the mast, first I would check all the standing rigging for proper adjustment ; mast rake and mast alignment, forestay,backstay and shroud tension.                                          If the boat won't point in a stiff breeze, try tightening the forestay (roller furl or jib, doesn't matter) sounds like foresail luff is sagging to lee under load.                                                                                                            Just the process of stepping a mast will change standing rigging dimensions, and therefore change the set of the sails.
  If you really want to get the rig right start with a plumb bob, a tape measure then a LOOS cable tension guage.
"Drive on! there's a big white whale up there somewhere!"
   Rob, B.E. (boatyard engineer)

PS. I have a bad habit of tacking too quickly, and stalling after the tack, I learned to check water off the stern after a tack and not see any rudder swirl. The lesson was slower is faster.