Dart 15 Forums

High all

Went club racing on Sunday with wind gusting up to 45mph, great fun but struggling with tacking, got stuck head to wind a few times. I have read the Tips section since, has anyone else any additional advice.

Simon 1970

Yes - Don't stall your tacks!!!

and seriously this time:

Be sure to keep your boat speed up and do not tack into the face of a wave. If it's windy you'll have your traveller well out, so be sure to ease the main through tack and not to sheet in too early.

If you do stall, reverse the rudders and keep the main loose - the bows should come round OK with this technique and although it's slow, it's quicker than failing and trying again in 50 yds.

You really need to plan the tack to be sure you time it right with the water. If the waves are big then watch where you put your weight. If you sit back and tack, the bows will rise and with reduced water resistance the wind can simply blow the bows back, so make sure your bows are in the water by keeping your weight in an appropriate place.

All of the above is for unarig as when you sail with a jib it's just about impossible to stall as the iib will pull you about. Hopefully you'll be at Instow and will find this out for yourself!!

Cheers

Mark

Cheers Mark