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Learn To Sail A Schooner No.1

Sailing Off Anchor With Wind And Tide In The Same Direction

About SchoonerSail Learning To Sail A Schooner Articles

John, Trinovante’s skipper started writing these articles after some Trinovante Crew asked for more information on the fundamentals of schooner handling. None of these articles are invented theory. John has simply written about specific situations that have arisen. This article was written after getting underway on the River Stour on the Suffolk/Essex border.

Seafaring is an ongoing learning process and John cautions against set piece manoeuvers. You need a plan but it needs to be flexible because things don’t always go according to plan.

Sail Training involves learning HOW to safely handle ropes, some basic knots and using winches among other things. WHY we need these skills is to be able to carry out manoeuveres under sail or power.

Full knowledge of the WHY is not essential. Dip into these Learning To Sail articles if you want.

Print Learn To Sail A Schooner No.1

Sailing Off Anchor With Wind And Tide In The Same Direction

Learn To Sail Article No 1, Sailing Off Anchor Image 1

Trinovante is lying head to wind and tide and we want to sail west.

The gaff foresail, mainsail and mizzen are set with the ship head to wind but no headsails.

The jib and staysail are ready to be hoisted.

Learn To Sail Article No 1, Sailing Off Anchor Image 2

The anchor chain is shortened up to twice depth of water.

The rudder is put to port to sheer Trinovante across the tide.

The Foresail is held aback on a slip line.

We use the power of the wind in the backed foresail and the weight of the vessel slewing in the tide to trip the anchor and turn the boat short almost in its own length.

Learn To Sail Article No 1, Sailing Off Anchor Image 3

The fore deck team wind in anchor as quickly as possible. at the same time the jib is hoisted aback to increase the momentum of the turn.

The main and mizzen sheets are already slacked off and the peaks are eased to take the drive out of these sails.

If we start to make stern way the rudder must be put over the oposite way.

Learn To Sail Article No 1, Sailing Off Anchor Image 4

Now the bows are turning away from the wind and the sails start to drive.

At this point we gather steerage way, the slip on the foresail is released, the jib is sheeted home on the port side and the staysail is hoisted.

Trinovante turns away and sails away down river.

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