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You are here: Home1 / Tall Ships & Schooners2 / Learn To Sail A Schooner3 / Learn To Sail A Schooner No.4

Learn To Sail A Schooner No.4

Sailing Away From A Quay – Wind Ahead

About SchoonerSail’s Learning To Sail A Schooner Articles

John, Trinovante’s skipper started writing these articles after some Trinovante guest sailors asked for more information on the fundamentals of schooner handling.

None of these articles are invented theory, instead John has simply written about specific situations that have arisen over the years.

This particular article was written after getting underway on the River Stour on the Suffolk/Essex border.

Learn to Sail A Schooner No.4 was written after sailing off Halfpenny Pier in Harwich, Suffolk.

Seafaring is an ongoing learning process and John cautions against set piece manoeuvres. 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. The ‘WHY’ is so that we can carry out slick manoeuvres under sail or power.

Full knowledge of the ‘why’ is not essential to be a useful member of the crew, so please only dip into these ‘Learning To Sail’ articles as you will and enjoy them. When you sail with us you will be fully briefed at the time – don’t feel under any pressure to learn anything in advance.

   Print Learn To Sail A Schooner No.4 (full article below)

Sailing Away From A Quay With The Wind Ahead

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Preparing To Sail

We always manoeuvre under sail if we can. Sailing off a quay requires careful timing. It is an advanced manoeuvre.
All the crew need to know exactly what their specific role is going to be and are well briefed beforehand so they understand what is about to happen. Once the operation is started it will all happen quite quickly and there is no room for mistakes.

The object is to sail off the quay and immediately turn 180° to sail south. We need to avoid driving the stern into the quay so we use the staysail, which is the smallest sail, for backing.

The other sails do need to be driving the boat forward as we leave the quay side, so all lower sails, except the jib, are set well before we start. The jib is hoisted at the last moment to avoid flailing sheets. Smart line handling is necessary and the crew need to be alert.

Learn To Sail A Schooner No.4 Sailing Off A Quay Image 1

Image 1

We are now singled up to bow and stern slip lines that can be let go from onboard.

Learn To Sail A Schooner No.4 Sailing Off A Quay Image 2

Image 2

The wind fills the backed staysail and the bowline is slipped. Almost immediately the jib is hoisted and sheeted home.

The staysail is let fly and sheeted to starboard as soon as the swing of the bows is firmly established.

Learn To Sail A Schooner No.4 Sailing Off A Quay Image 3

Image 3 

The sails are now drawing As the ship pulls away from the quay the stern line is slipped and and the fender is taken in.

The helm is kept amidships until Trinovante has gathered way

Learn To Sail A Schooner No.4 Sailing Off A Quay Image 4

Image 4

Trinovante is gaining speed fast now.

The rudder is put to starboard, the mizzen and main sail, the two aftermost sails, are eased off. This allows the 3 forward sails (jib, staysail and foresail) to turn the boat more.

Leaving the mizzen and main sheeted would tend to hold the bows up into the wind.

As we bear away from the wind and complete the turn all the sheets will be eased and we are away!

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