If there is one thing we really miss about our switch to power it is sailing onto and off of the anchor. These folks have the system down pat:
- Drop the mooring pennant and unroll the jib to pull the bow off the wind in the desired direction.
- Clear the anchorage.
- Use momentum from reaching to go head to wind, then raise the main.
- Back wind jib to get the bow to pay off.
- Quietly acknowledge kudos from the moored (and jealous) spectators.
Posted by Steve Dashew (December 23, 2010)
December 23rd, 2010 at 8:45 am
Maybe I am doing this wrong, so please straighten me out. I have to admit this is great fun, especially single handing our little Papoose. But, if there are better ways than what I am doing, I want to learn!
1. When I sail off anchor, I put the wheel over in the direction I want the stern to go when she moves astern, then raise the main leaving the sheet loose.
2. Then I go to the bow and raise the anchor until I am directly over the anchor. 3. I wait for the right oscillation, as she sails on the anchor, to point in the most favorable direction and then raise the anchor.
4. After it is temporarily secured, I go back to the cockpit to push the boom out to gain a little more speed backing up so the rudder will send the stern around. 5. I haul in the main to start moving forward when the wind direction looks favorable, unfurl the yankee & staysail, then go forward when they’re set to dip the anchor (clean) and secure it.
However, I have no experience with a variety of conditions as I’ve always done this locally (we have not travelled out of our area) where we have no current. I would appreciate any suggestions as this is great fun!
December 23rd, 2010 at 9:59 am
I had the occasion to sail my Lord Nelson 41 into Nantucket Harbor. The wind was blowing about 15 kts so the boat was moving very well. We did one leg through the mooring field, spotted our mooring and dropped and trimmed sail and picked up the mooring under sail (just a staysail at the end) to a round of applause.
The is something enormously satisfying about moving a boat in close quarters with finesse and control. Perhaps it is the contrast to so much of what you see in normal coastal cruising.