Tacking

I have been sunfish sailing a few times. The first time I sailed a sunfish, every time I tried to tack, I would get in the irons. The next few times I sailed a sunfish, I did not have the problem. I could tack quite well, but recently I was sailing and I had the problem again. Every time I tacked I got in the irons. I have read some other threads about tacking in a sunfish, specifically this one: http://sailingforums.com/threads/sunfish-side-switching-as-you-tack-how-do-you-do-it.28751/ but I haven't found any insights. Both times I have had the problem, the wind has been fairly strong. Recently the wind was around 20 knots. Has anyone else had this problem? Does anyone have advice for me?

I'll start.

Keep up your speed before tacking, and be "assertive" with the tiller.

I do try to keep my speed up for tacking. Not too hard in 20 knot winds. I feel that I am fairly assertive with the tiller. How assertive is assertive? Yanking it all the way? How far do I need to push the tiller?

I've found I am more inclined to get in Irons in heavy winds than light winds. Here's my theory. In strong wind you may feel closer to the wind than you actually are. I've realized that if I am not careful it is easy to tack while still in a reach; which causes me to pull the tiller out of the tack too soon. By the time I've realized it, my speed has diminished and I'm in irons. Also, with strong wind I tend to get conservative, being cautious that I don't capsize on the other side of the tack. This zaps my speed and there I am, in irons. So, as has been advised, stay aggressive in the tack, pushing the tiller hard and as far as possible, and make sure you speed thru the tack sufficiently. Also make sure the line is not cleated and is free of your feet. BTW, I've also found it more difficult to get out of irons in heavy wind than in light wind. I also have a theory on that but I'll save that for another time.

I agree with Sailkb's description. Another thing I do to help the boat around it to grab the boom as it crosses over the cockpit and let the wind fill it. If the turn was "iffy" the extra force swings it on around; then I let the boom go.

Get the end of the tiller close to the edge of the boat, much more than that and the rudder acts as a brake because it stalls.

Also, what type of rudder and daggerboard do you have? It is harder to tack with the old style rudder and short daggerboards, because they don't have as much surface area.

I have had the problem in a few different boats. They have all been lateen rigged and similar to the sunfish. The first was an Aquafin and the second was the Star Dancer. The Star Dancer I sailed has very similar rudder and daggerboard to the old style sunfish rudder and daggerboard.

James Eckhardt said:

"...I have had the problem in a few different boats..."

Click to expand...

I was forced to learn techniques for getting out of "irons" in a Porpoise II. (A shorter, lateen-rigged non-Sunfish).

The "genuine" Sunfish is more forgiving in that regard, but your first post describes a "sunfish" (small 's').

???

I have sailed a Sunfish, an Aquafin and a Star Dancer. They are all fairly similar so I just said sunfish. I figured that the tacking procedure would be fairly similar for all of them.

Sailing a borrowed, worn, and unfamiliar Sunfish, I found myself "in irons" in moderate and variable winds this morning! (Why I prefer Light and Variable Winds ).

Waiting until the boat was moving backwards, I pushed the tiller away (in the direction I wanted the stern to move) and, with the above suggestion, pulled the boom in until the sail could fill. Once the bow "crossed the wind", I threw the tiller the other way, and hauled-in the mainsheet. This is the same technique I've used many times with the shorter and narrower hull of the Porpoise II.

When it happened a second time, I pulled up the daggerboard, which helped to "throw" the bow over.

This Sunfish has a new sail marked "Alcort Class Certified". (The sail has a nice feel, and a large "blousing" over the boom when at rest). The rudder, tiller, and hiking stick are brand-new, and the daggerboard has three ½" holes drilled through it! Still, it seems noticeably faster than my other two Sunfish with their non-certified sails. It's missing the splashboard, which my foot told me, contributes a lot of strength to the deck. (No damage, though ).

So, where was I going with all this?

Oh yes...you have company!

Perhaps you have have the sail out to much. Sheet in before the tack and hold it there through the tack. This will help you power up sooner to finish the tack.

JE, depending on what your doing you'll need to adjust what you do:

if you are sailing too close to the wind and pinching, than you need to bear off just the right amount and pick up some speed.

if you are sailing too far off the wind and tacking without sheeting in then you are trying to change your heading too great a degree without power - you lose foward motion before you make it all the way over and hence irons. in that case sheet in like Paul says.

but if you end up in irons, push the boom and the tiller away from you (the rudder will angle toward the same side you're on.) as the pressure of the wind on your sail pushes you backwards, the tiller will turn your craft at an angle to the wind and as the side of the sail facing will fill with wind. is it does pull in the tiller to bear off and off you will go! If that's not the tack you had in mind, just re-position yourself to the other side of the boat and do the same thing.