[C320-list] Heaving-to

[Jack Brennan]

Hi David:

I think you’re right. But there’s more to that whole story. I’ve read his books, many of his magazine articles and his web site. 

James Baldwin cruised the world in a small, heavy, skinny, full-keeled sailboat and obviously has a bias toward that design. (I sailed a very similar Bristol 30 for many years.) So he had an attitude and a point to prove when he sailed that 320 down to the islands.

He should have waited for a weather window, but he purposefully put that 320 through rough conditions, hoping to show how inadequate the design was for open waters. He also sailed the hell out of it when he should have eased up and not fought the rough seas.

Long-keeled sailboats and the 320 are vastly different beasts. His Alberg could cruise through almost anything with few problems, but at 4 knots, a 30-degree heel and with no room below. Your 320 will hit 7.5 knots and is roomy, but requires gentler handling when conditions get rough.

Everyone has an opinion, but many experts say boats like the 320 should forereach instead of heaving to, for reasons I only partly understand. Generally, a little rolled-out jib will do the trick, although it’s possible backwinding may help you self-steer in certain conditions.

Personally, I think I’ve screwed up the few times I’ve wound up in continuing conditions of more than 25 knots. Down here in Florida, that means very rough seas. In squalls, I’ll just roll out a minimum of jib and ride it out.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.









Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: David Hayes
Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2020 9:08 PM
To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Heaving-to

Hi all,

I recently read the Atom Voyages article about the 13 day offshore trip in a 320, a really great article.  But, I'd appreciate any thoughts regarding one particular reference he makes to heaving-to and the sail configuration he used....where he says he backfilled the jib and had the helm (locked) turned slightly leeward, and the boat (rather than heaving-to, actually started forereaching quite calmly) happily galloped off to the south-east at about 5 knots with a wind from the south-west, and stayed on that course itself all night without a hand on the wheel.
Everything I have read about heaving-to says to backfill the job and turn the wheel to windward.....not leeward.  I have tried it only once in very light winds and this seemed to work as intended, but I do plan on practising this again in heavier winds next time I'm out.  But this article seems contrary to other things I have read.  No doubt it depends on the precise amount of sail you have out etc as to exactly where you have the wheel pointed to achieve the result the author achieved, but steering to leeward, with a backfilled jib, I would expect to push you strongly downwind rather than keep you on a reach?

I'd appreciate any thoughts.
__________________
David Hayes
Mobile: 0478 956 056
20 Cooks Outlet Road
Loch Vic 3945