Drascombe Longboat @ Poole

[patrickcol]

Cheers Nigel, not racing craft, I was referring to working boats and square-rigged ships. With all that windage they mostly go backwards! I believe I remember your article and I was most taken with it. Happy Christmas to you to.

[nigelbruen]

Not trying to teach Granny...etc but so few people, it seems, know about heaving-to. Anyway, arn't Draskies just the very best? If you get the chance to read my article in the Drascombe Magazine from a couple of years age, "Draskies in Oman", you might enjoy it.

Appreciate that some 'racing spaceblobs' cannot make to windward (let alone heave-to) but Longboats are good at it; the very best ever is the Dabber which can do so about as well as it can when sailing. So, good sailing to you and h Xmas

[nigelbruen]

Learn how to heave-to and all will become calm and so easy; its handy for getting off a lee shore too.

Want to know how? Set her up for normal sailing and either come through the wind or haul the jib a-back. Anyway, end up with the jib backed and the tiller secured to leeward and she will ride easy, making to windward, while you sort out your gear and make a cup of tea. Bonus: no flapping sails to dodge and no noise. Do it and you will wonder how you ever got on before.

[patrickcol]

@nigelbruen Thanks mate, only been sailing for 45 years, never heard of heaving-to! However, as a previous comment accurately suggests, I needed a mate. I was just mucking about in a very narrow, busy channel surrounded by shallow water. I often sail the Drascombe single-handed but it's quite a handful in a confined space. Incidentally, not all boats will fore-reach, bigger sailing ships will drop to windward.

[Occamed]

Once the jib was stowed it must have been nice

[paulbairer]

you look as if you need a mate !

[patrickcol]

Just like the real thing