Hobie University, NAHCA
Page 15
30 Mar 02
LAUNCHING OFF A WEATHER SHORE
(wind blowing from the shore onto the water)
1. In most situations and conditions you will be able to simply point the boat in the desired direction and
sail off. When this is not feasible, try the following.
2. Rudders kicked up, all sheets uncleated and slack, nothing dragging in the water.
3. Boat pointed into the wind.
4. Skipper and crew, one on each bow, push off from shore. The depressed bows will allow the boat to
track straight backwards as the wind pushes it away from the shore. A foot gently dragging in the
water from the appropriate bow can steer the boat if you get slightly off course.
5. The jib can be held out perpendicular to the wind to push you backward faster.
6. When the depth of the water allows you to lower the rudders (carefully) without touching the bottom,
turn the rudders to point the bows in the desired direction and sail away. If you go into irons, refer to
Getting Out Of Irons.
LAUNCHING OFF A LEE SHORE
(wind blowing from the water onto the shore)
1. Determine which tack (port or starboard) will take you more directly off the shore.
2. Point the boat in the direction of that tack and push it off the shore with the jib sheeted in and the
rudders dragging behind you.
3. With the traveler out a foot or two, sheet the main in slowly until the boat maintains a constant
direction approximately 10 to 15 degrees below what would be your close hauled course.
You are steering (balancing) the boat with the sails.
Note that with the rudders not being locked down and very little or no dagger board down, you will have
horrendous weather helm. If you over sheet the main you will weather vane into irons. The importance
of a trimmed jib cannot be overemphasized as it helps to counteract the weather helm.
4. Lower your rudders as the depth allows, weather rudder first, until they are both locked down. The
rudders will steer more effectively the more they are lowered. You will also be able to sheet in the
main sail more without going into irons as the rudders are lowered.
5. Lower your dagger boards (carefully) as the depth allows, weather board first.
6. If you are launching off of a beach with surf, see LAUNCHING THROUGH THE SURF, below.
TACKING
• Skipper
1. Look over your rear shoulder and pick a geographical point to indicate your new course.
2. Push the tiller. Steer progressively into the tack. Do not jam the tiller over too quickly; this will act as a
brake, slow you too much, and blow your tack. Maintain a constant pressure on the tiller through step
4.
3. Ease the main sheet at head to wind. The main sheet blocks should come apart 1 to 2 feet, or more.
In light air, pull the boom toward you while staying on the leeward side until almost on your new
course. The light air will not have enough energy to force your main sheet blocks apart, and the main
sail will weather vane you into irons.
4. Change tiller hands while switching sides. Reach around and behind the main sheet blocks to grasp the
tiller with your new hand, pivoting on your knees.
5. Once pointed onto your new course, straighten the rudders and sheet in the jib, then the main sail. If the
main sail is sheeted in before the jib, the boat may weather vane into irons.
• Crew
(crew actions and where they fit into the sequence)
2. Move to the other side of boat head first, taking the new jib sheet with you.
5. When pointed onto your new course, tack the jib by releasing the old sheet and pulling in the new sheet
