Taking sailing lessons on a sunfish this weekend

NJHippo

New Member
Hi
I currently sail my boat (American 14-6 sloop), but the sailing club I joined has Sunfish. Any tips for a noob. I know I am going to miss my windex
thanks
 
Had my Sunfish sailing lessons. Had a blast, my thanks to the instructors of the Hunterdon Sailing Club. Wind was pretty brisk and rolled it twice. Main differences I found between my American 14-6 and the Sunfish were:
1. My American tacks easier and maintains speed better through a tack, the Sunfish seemed to stall before it got all the way across the wind
2. Sunfish accelerates (or at least feels like it) much better
3. Gybing was completely different experience, both my capsizes were on a gybe. The boat would would just seem to keep going and flip. I am sure it was my fault not the boat's
 
On your point one. What centerboard did the sunfish you were using have? The newer foil boards tack much better and don't stall as easily. Once you get more practice look into learning to roll tack. Much faster than just pushing the rudder over. Keeps the speed of the boat up.
 
Sounds like the perfect day! Gybes need to be controlled, that comes with experience, draw the sail in as the boat is turning then let it back out on the new tack. If the sail just whips across the boat will follow it. For recreational sailing I like the Chicken Gybe, where I tack 270 degrees back through the wind vs gybing :)

Insert random boat photo here...

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On your point one. What centerboard did the sunfish you were using have? The newer foil boards tack much better and don't stall as easily. Once you get more practice look into learning to roll tack. Much faster than just pushing the rudder over. Keeps the speed of the boat up.
Wood
 
If you look the video in the forums,North Americans mark rounding video - from drone, you will see boats with new better shaped boards doing fast roll tacks with good acceleration.
 
Glad you enjoyed your sail!
How was the water quality? Any issues with the HAB? I want to go there, but my wife is all in a tizzy because of the warnings and closures.
 
Sounds like the perfect day! Gybes need to be controlled, that comes with experience, draw the sail in as the boat is turning then let it back out on the new tack. If the sail just whips across, the boat will follow it. For recreational sailing I like the Chicken Gybe, where I tack 270 degrees back through the wind vs gybing :) Insert random boat photo here...
I'll use that technique when running before a strong wind, and need to be on the other tack before landing. The 270° "Chicken Gybe" was formerly termed "Wearing-About" in the days of square sails. (And before signal-charlie's Sunfish arrived on the sailing scene). ;)

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Interestingly, wearing is technically when a large ship gybes 270ish degrees to avoid tacking. Effectively a 'chicken-tack' This is because, unlike on a sunfish, on a large sailing ship gybing is relatively risk free whereas tacking involves the risk of being caught in irons, disastrous in big seas or near a lee-shore. So in those situations a big ship will wear instead of tacking. Can you tell that I have read lots of Patrick O'Brien books :^)
 
Glad you enjoyed your sail!
How was the water quality? Any issues with the HAB? I want to go there, but my wife is all in a tizzy because of the warnings and closures.
Right now it is closed again for swimming. We had no problems or saw any HAB sheets of algae. I would probably sail, but the sailing club is cancelling until they get the all clear. We got lucky that they had a couple days open and closed again
 

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