Sailing backwards

[pez]

I've never tried... is it just a matter of gatting in irons and then pushing the boom out and counteracting the blow with the tiller?

 

[sk8ingsailor]

you go upwind, push the boom out, and bam. your going backwards

 

[jamesfreedman]

Its great for learning how to stop your boat right on the line 45 seconds to the start. In the past i have performed excersizes where you stop your boat then try to get your boat going again and then stop. This way you can learn the time it takes to get the boat moving from a complete stop. Also practice in different wind conditions and wave action.

 

[WestCoast]

who knows if it's worth mentioning, but, the tiller works in reverse when you're going backwords. Point it where you want the stern to go.

 

[TimClark]

who knows if it's worth mentioning, but, the tiller works in reverse when you're going backwords. Point it where you want the stern to go.

umm actually you point the tiller where you want the bow to go.

 

[imevrythingevil]

yeh, point the tiller where u want the bow to go... i get what west coast meant though

 

[Merrily]

umm actually you point the tiller where you want the bow to go.

Huh? But you are sailing backwards. I vote for stern.

 

[Ericbh3]

I vote it'll take you a split second to figure out what to do with the damn stick!

 

[rock steady]

I vote it'll take you a split second to figure out what to do with the damn stick!

LOL

 

[gouvernail]

A really long tiller extension helps a lot. The stern slaps the waves pretty hard.

Note; I am a big fat slob ( Ask Stinky) It certainly is not something you can do when there is much wind. BUT>>> I quickly learned to sail upwind backwards and even to tack.
Locally? We had a backwards race exactly one time wherr we actually strarted and went around an entire triangle. and one of the college kids who was nuts enough to humor me and try it is now 42.
Maybe we need to try again. The other nut still sails. He has a new Laser and is sailing with the wednesday fleet.