Tacking

[Stephen Wooltorton]

I can now tack my Seadog of Polruan by pulling the mizzen sail to windward before sailing her around. The foresail sheet is not released until the bow has passed through the wind. Just loosening the mizzen sheet didn't work. She tacks reliably even in very light winds. The ideas came from the varied replies on the subject for which I thank you all.I shall look to tune her up now!

[Graham Matthews]

Thanks for the update, yes getting the bow through the wind before releasing the genoa sheet is essential, but so is releasing the mizen. Ray Claugherty, who always sailed SeaCanis single handed, always said that he could easily steer her using just the mizen.

On Fri, 18 Aug 2023, 18:24 Stephen Wooltorton, <stephenwo...@gmail.com> wrote:

I can now tack my Seadog of Polruan by pulling the mizzen sail to windward before sailing her around. The foresail sheet is not released until the bow has passed through the wind. Just loosening the mizzen sheet didn't work. She tacks reliably even in very light winds. The ideas came from the varied replies on the subject for which I thank you all.I shall look to tune her up now!

--
This message is from the seadog owners google group.
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SeaDog" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to seadog+un...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/seadog/CAL16EoCRO3%3Dj9K0Q-6B8W1aNKZkuHroF-vTb-g3UnGdjBzxWUg%40mail.gmail.com.

[J binns]

I fitted two mizzen sheets, one attached either side of the after cabin led back to the cockpit which permits backing of the mizzen from the cockpit. However going about even in light airs was just achievable by releasing the original single mizzen sheet and allowing the genoa to back. There are other benifits of the twin sheets but access aft is reduced.

Sea Lark

Sent from my Xperia on O2

---- Stephen Wooltorton wrote ----

I can now tack my Seadog of Polruan by pulling the mizzen sail to windward before sailing her around. The foresail sheet is not released until the bow has passed through the wind. Just loosening the mizzen sheet didn't work. She tacks reliably even in very light winds. The ideas came from the varied replies on the subject for which I thank you all.I shall look to tune her up now!

--

[Brian Jones]

Thank you Graham,

You can sail the Seadog by altering the direction of the mizzen and fitting two mizzen sheets is a good idea. When you think about it a full blown weather vane steering system works in exactly the same way.  Changing the angle of the oar in the water, changes the course of the boat through the water. To put it another way think of a simple weather vane on a house. The vane points directly into the wind when the wind down each  side of the vane is equal. If you had a trim tab on the rear  pointing to one way or another of the vane, the angle of the vane would change. That is the principle of all the weather vanes e.g. Hydrovane,  Monitor etc. Therefore changing the angle of the Mizzen changes the course of the boat through the water. To set the system in motion I would sail the boat using the main and the foresails on the desired course and then bring the mizzen into play as well. When the boat goes off the course, the angle of the mizzen brings it back again, just as it would with a weather vane.

When you tack off that course you release the mizzen sheet completely. Change course with your sheering wheel or tiller and don't release the foresails or genoa until the boat is through the eye of the wind and then take in the sheet of the largest sail first, on the opposite tack and then you can release the other head sails and do likewise. When you are sailing on the opposite tack and course, bring the mizzen into play so that the boat will be kept on that course by the Mizzen.

I have a friend who sailed his 38ft gaff ketch 'MEANDER' all the way from the Azores or Cape Verde islands to Barbados in the Caribbean by just adjusting his mizzen sheet now and then. The only other kit he carried was a compass, sextant, chronometer, and an old VFH radio. He made six crossings in all before retiring from the sea altogether.

Of course setting the mizzen to windward would hasten the change of direction and having two mizzen sheets this could be done to a greater effect. This action would force the boat to change direction. I have never used this system but it's a jolly good idea especially in light winds.

There is another way of keeping her on course by using the rudder but that involves taking a line from the foresail sheet between the sail and first block, back through a block on the pushpit and around the tiller and to balance that you will need a length of shock cord from the tiller to a bock on the opposite side of the pushpit. When the boat goes off course the sheet from the headsail sheet slackens  or tightens, depending which way she is heading and the shock cord brings her back on course by tightening or releasing. That involves getting the tensions equal on both sides but once that is set up she will go on that course for as long as you like.

Brian

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/seadog/CAEpjZsoRvrEG8PP4hLi%3DjK_4z%2B%3DWXVGoKhoSFrVdZc%2BXaQcLBA%40mail.gmail.com.

[J binns]

Hello

Can anyone advise if there is a 'recomended' supplier for Seadog sails please.

John

Sent from my Xperia on O2

---- 'Brian Jones' via SeaDog wrote ----

[dermot.reidy56]

John

Try Fareast Sails (.com). I've use them and they were good, and v reasonable. Also, as the luff sizes are fairly standard, try any of the lofts that do secondhand. You might get a bargain. 

Dermot (Siren of Brandon. 91)

Sent from my Galaxy

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/seadog/se6jet43lt5gsmkq5l6jsfd0.1692541338285%40email.android.com.

[Graham Matthews]

All of the sails for Dougal were made by Sanders Sails of Lymington, always been more than happy with sails and service offered 

https://www.sanders-sails.co.uk/

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/seadog/64e2263e.df0a0220.a5f3d.c895%40mx.google.com.

[MaxineandIan Round]

We had a new thread put in for the genoa for a new furler at Saunders the old boy actually remembered making the sail. 

Suspect he has departed to the sail loft in the sky by now but Saunders are familiar with the Seadog sans and cum bowsprit

Ian

Sent from Outlook for Android

---

From: sea...@googlegroups.com <sea...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Graham Matthews <gra...@seadog.co.uk>
Sent: Sunday, August 20, 2023 4:03:36 PM
To: dermot.reidy56 <dermot....@gmail.com>
Cc: J binns <j.jb...@btinternet.com>; 'Brian Jones' via SeaDog <sea...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [SEADOG] Tacking

 

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/seadog/CAEpjZsoK%3DizUOxcCp5Z%3DRXV18psr5pj6CDSkr6FRydtti8qdEA%40mail.gmail.com.

[J binns]

Many thanks for the answers.

John

Sent from my Xperia on O2

---- MaxineandIan Round wrote ----

[Keith Baker]

Hi All

I bought new main and Mizzen from Jeckells last winter very helpful the only company to reply to my enquiry and happy with the sails so far approx £1500

From a smart Pavonia

Thought you might like to see 2 great yachts together in Ramsey in June 

Get Outlook for Android

---

From: 'J binns' via SeaDog <sea...@googlegroups.com>

Sent: Sunday, August 20, 2023 4:58:32 PM
To: Graham Matthews <gra...@seadog.co.uk>; dermot.reidy56 <dermot....@gmail.com>; MaxineandIan Round <timo...@hotmail.co.uk>
Cc: 'Brian Jones' via SeaDog <sea...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [SEADOG] Tacking

 

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/seadog/fce1t2gee0n22dhtdgf51hnd.1692547112954%40email.android.com.

[MaxineandIan Round]

That is a good price

Sent from Outlook for Android

---

From: Keith Baker <kb...@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2023 8:54:06 AM
To: Graham Matthews <gra...@seadog.co.uk>; dermot.reidy56 <dermot....@gmail.com>; MaxineandIan Round <timo...@hotmail.co.uk>; J binns <j.jb...@btinternet.com>

[J binns]

I am awaiting a quote from Sanders, he discussed types of material etc and will/prefers not to use Chinese sourced material under western sounding names. John

[Graham Matthews]

Sanders supplied Genoa, mizen and in-mast main for Douglas. Probably not the cheapest but very happy with fit and quality.

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/seadog/eiq3ium4iqlm1qc99djeee32.1692699728758%40email.android.com.