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Learn To Sail A Schooner No.5

Sailing Away From A Quay With The Wind Aft

About SchoonerSail’s 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.

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.5

Sailing Away From A Quay With the Wind Aft

Sailing off a quay requires careful timing. 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 things happen quite quickly.

Preparing to sail The aim here is to get the boat away from the quay, turned, on the wind, with the sails drawing and ready to tack in the shortest possible time – before we reach the other side of the fjord opposite the quay.

The wind is blowing slightly off the quay from aft. Slip lines been rigged and are ready to let go from onboard. All the sails have been prepared and are ready to hoist.

Image 1

The staysail is hoisted sheeted amidships which acts like a weather cock to swing the boat in line with the wind.

The forward slip line is released and as the boat tries to move ahead with the force of the wind the stern is swung in causing the bows to swing out.

Learn To Sail A Schooner No 5 , Sailing Off A Quay With The Wind Aft image 3

Image 2

As the boat comes in line with the wind the jib is hoisted and the stern line is slipped.

Trinovante begins to gather way before the momentum of the swing is lost.

Image 3

As the stern comes clear of the quay the peak of the mizzen is hoisted. This allows the wind to push the stern round accelerating the turn. As soon as possible the crew get the rest of the mizzen up.

Image 4

The fore sail and main sail are now hoisted and the crew progressively sheet all the sails in until Trinovante comes round onto a close hauled heading.

The crew go straight to their tacking stations. Once Trinovante has enough way on we can tack and start to beat out of the fjord.