Growing hops

Putting a dead cat on the mic sounds disgusting.

Martin Thanks, I appreciate the comment. Yes, the sound just wasn't captured very well due to the wind. For Christmas we got a new microphone with a fur wind cover, so next summer's and on recordings should have clear sound.

the problem is not the microphone;, it's the music that detracts from this video's quality

'Can't hear anything because of the music. If you want to do a disco video don't do it under the guise of a sailing video.

I concur

I actually just didn't watch this video because the voice was just drowned by the music. So while from other videos I've really liked the way information is put together and well explained, this is all lost if you can't hear it. During editing it would help if you set the music to a lower volume, at least during the informational part of it, go nuts on intros and outros, I mean some of it is not really my kind of music, but to each their own, you should be free to do what you want with your videos, I would just recommend keeping the volumes in check.

I did too! I spent more time reading the comments than watching the video!!

Same here. What is with the loud music? Totally unnecessary. Stopped watching half way through. Pity.

Mike Sorensen Agreed, along with Maryland School os sailing!

Mike, Many thanks for the kind words. Some new videos coming in the next few weeks. Tom

Music makes this video terribly difficult to listen to what you are saying!

I sail jib alone quite often. It does take a bit of work to keep the boat heading to the wind.

I'd say someone who isn't wise enough to sail with jib alone, when it is appropriate to do so, as explained in the video, is a stupid sailor.

Yes, that can be a significant issue as with jib alone it is difficult to maintain momentum. One trick to try, is prior to the tack, easy off just a big to incease speed, then turn up and right into the tack, benefitting for the additional momentum this provides.

Steve, I think the key is to ensure that you have good boat speed prior to starting the tack. If the boat is sluggish or slow and you want to tack, consider easing the jibsheet and bearing off just a bit to a close reach to pick up speed. If you have the jib trimmed correctly, you should re-establish good speed. Then go right into and through the tack. Same thing after coming through the wind, dont be afraid to to turn to the close-reach position to pick up speed before turning back to close-hauled. When close-reaching, you are adjusting the jibsheet to ensure the jib is not stalled, not the rudder. When close-hauled, adjusting the boat angle with the rudder has the unfortunate result of slowing the boat when you least want that to happen...When sailing with just a jib, don't go to close-hauled until you are carrying speed built close-reaching. Good luck, Tom

Yeah, you can pick up some speed (if speed it the problem) by bearing away - since reaching is a faster point of sailing (and probably puts your boat at a better angle w.r.t. the heading waves). And you could also start the tack by back-winding the headsail, to more easily drive you through the dead-iron zone. But there are situations where tacking with the headsail alone is too difficult (or impossible?) For instance, on choppy sea. The best you could do then is to sync your tacking with the next upcoming wave, and wish that you did that right, and hope that with the help of that wave you'll make the follow through. That's why upwind sailing with the headsail alone is not a clever idea.

low to mid 20s...

Liam, Did the genoa produce a high heeling angle? If you boat was heeling a great deal, I would suspect perhaps the weather helm of the immersed hull shape overrode the imbalance produced by just a jib, and you end with weather helm. Try some steps to reduce the sail load: partially furl the genoa or use a smaller sail, flatten the sail with halyard tension, ease off the wind just a bit...see if anything helps.

Sail Fanatics Yup, I let a bit too much sail out. That explains it thanks!

Ali, Running downwind, either the jib or main can be effective, the sail power is entirely based on the amount of sail area with either sail. However, a big plus of the jib only configuration , especially in high wind or rolling sea conditions, is that a jib cannot accidentally jibe, whereas a main easily can. In high winds, an accidental jibe can injure crew or break gear. See kzfaq.info/get/bejne/e5melqmqz5rWkZs.html

Our current vessel is a 1987 Pearson 31-2. Thanks for watching. Tom

That recently happened when I was sailig with a 15ft open boat reffered to as a "Valk". Close haul was possible but once I tried tacking, the boat just wouldn't turn and instead I was pushed downwind to shore

@@sailingaeolus Patrick The video is explicit about the situations where sailing with just a jib are appropriate. I don't know what you think of as "poor conditions" but usually that means higher wind speeds if not also wave action. Just a jib is fine with good wind pressure, as the video says you need to pay attention to the operation of the boat. The sailor who has control difficulty under a jib alone, will probably have just as much difficulty being over-powered with both a jib and main. Perhaps trailer sailing you stay home in wind conditions where the jib and reefed main are too much sail, and you need to make a choice... Some smaller boats WITHOUT a furling jib, like yours, in high winds just a main can be more appropriate, in mid-size boats like my current 31', just the main provides very little power, and it would poor seamanship not default to use the jib.

@@patrickboek1138 You need to establish and maintain momentum to be able to drive through a tack. If you have difficulty tacking reliably, then bear off to a close reach, on that point of sail when the jib is properly trimmed you will have greater speed than close-hauled. Start your tack from close-reaching, the speed will take you through.

Pearson 31-2.

I don't think the boat would have been much faster with the main up, as due to the wind speed we would have needed to then reef the jib (and the main). If we were sailing any distance in these conditions, I would have the main up, with both the main and jib reefed. We might see some better speed, but the major advantage is the boat would be better balanced and easier to handle. Sadly, not likely to ever make 8 knots close hauled...

Frank With most sloop sailboats the jib is larger and more powerful than the main, especially a reefed main. So the jib alone will power a sloop much better than just a main, other than downwind where either sail can be effective. Most sloops I have sailed are very sluggish under main alone, but lively under jib alone. Plus a furling jib is much easier to deploy that sailing and reefing a mainsail.

@@SailFanatics Thanks for the info and the great videos. I bought a Cape Dory Typhoon a couple of years ago and your videos really help me learn and practice good sailing techniques. Thanks again!

Pearson 31-2

Actually its the wind noise that means you can't hear the helmsman.. see the pinned comment.