I was just going to suggest thisI also tried unclipping the mainsheet from the briddle at the last minute and letting the sail vane freely
What's keeping it from doing that? How do you run your halyard?the sail cant go all the way around
Yes, you can and then you paddle in or you let the wind take you in.I was just going to suggest thisIt's never failed me (in the Laser).
What's keeping it from doing that? How do you run your halyard?
In the Sunfish, can't you just take the sail down on the water, directly upwind of the point on the shore where you want to go, and just let it drift?
I always though that was one of the advantages of the Sunfish
where you could simply let go of the sheet sailing any point
of the compass. Sail may look a little funny pointing in the
wrong direction but who cares. I always carry a paddle and
let go the sheet then paddle to waist deep water and wade in.
Every time I see someone trying to sail directly to the landing
bad things happen. Like my Uncle crunching a hole in the bow
hitting a rock. It is a wet-bottom-sailor so I always expect to
go for a swim anyway.
If you are trying to moor you boat while getting a beach dolly,
get one of those dog anchors you screw into the ground. Looks
like a giant wine-cork remover. You can screw it to the bottom
in two or three feet of water. Also good as a temporary mooring spot for
your Runabout just outside the designated swimming area.
Sometimes, you've got to push down firmly while turning. Use a short pipe or pry bar for leverage.I actually thought that was a great idea and bought one....until I realized the sand is too coarse and it won't take bite. It just falls over.
I think temporary mooring may be the best solution.....maybe a dumbell with a buoy throw it out there before heI actually thought that was a great idea and bought one....until I realized the sand is too coarse and it won't take bite. It just falls over.
It's a corkscrew...the one you can get at walmart I think.Just out of curiosity are you using the long rod with the "single plate helix "
or the short bent rod that looks like a cork-screw.
Leave out the paddle, it's another useless complication. Just jump in the water and walk the boat to the trolley.this most recent time I did get the sale down and still the sheer wind and waves pushed the boat into the shore and I coud not overpower with a paddle.
There has been some talk about this in the Laser department, and it may be useful in very strong wind when you need the full purchase again after you've gone through a narrow place with the sail "vaning" forward. At all other times, the extra length is just useless. The Sunfish sheet is SO easy to un/hook, too. You might as well use that function.I like the advice of a longer line to vane the sail when approaching on a full run.
Don't try to "overcome" the wind/waves, ride them toward the point you want to go. It's where you drop the sail that counts here.even with the sail down I seem to not be able to overcome the wind and waves.
Leave the trolley in a place where you can reach it while, preferably, holding on to the boat, or at least a very short run away. (That's where you left it when you went out, right?) If someone has taken it farther while you were sailing, pull the boat halfway out of the water and put something soft under it so you can leave it there for a short while. Your life jacket is ok for this (unless the ramp is very rough). And of course, if there are any other people on the shore they're certainly jerks if they don't help when you ask.I still need a "helping hand" when I run to get the dolly. Thats usually when she goes sideways on the rocks. Any thoughts?
To be totally honest, that looks like a very easy spot to land! I imagined some long and narrow waterway between rocky breakwaters...Look up Shull island boat launch. Its not the main one its the one on the East side of the bridge.