oatsandbeans
Member
When sailing Bye the Lee I often notice that I am using quite a lot of rudder (my tiller is 1 1/2" to windward). Why is this ? Am I trying to sail too far BTL, or do I need more windward heel?
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In light and med wind, let the boom out around 90 degrees, S-turns are fast, alternate between regular and by the lee flow on the sail while steering with your weight, trim in for an up turn, trim out for a down turn. Flatten the boat after each turn, then heal the opposite way and repeat. If there are waves, surfing the waves is usually fastest.
What you are describing is illegal under rule 42, unless there are waves you are catching. Fast, yes, but illegal.
Quote from ISAF rule 42 interpretations:
Repeated rolling not linked to wave patterns is rocking prohibited by rule
42.2(b), even if the boat changes course with each roll.
There is a such thing as legal rocking, You get one rock/pump per wave, and its not that you're changing course its that you are changing the flow on the sail from "by-the-lee" flow to "regular" flow. As long as your are transitioning from "by-the-lee" flow to "regular" flow you are permitted to rock the boat in order to steer (S turns).
Not quite. There is nothing to say you can only roll once per wave, and nothing to say that you're ok as long as flow over the sail is reversed.
ISAF rule 42 interpretations are here: http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/42interpretations2010final-[8881].pdf
You can legally roll the boat to 'facilitate steering', but repeated rolling that is 'not linked to wave patterns' is illegal whether or not the boat is changing course with the rolls.
The fast technique is to roll to leeward and pull in mainsheet to head up on a wave, then roll to windward together with an abrupt release of sheet (reverse pump) to cut back across it. You can do this as many times as you like on one wave.