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Heave to with F21?

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2017 1:57 pm
by mstmartin
Hi All,

Newbie to sailing and recently purchased F21 1984. It used to be owned by Rick from Rise whom many of you have interacted with on this site (great guy and great organization)! Can anyone tell me how to heave to? I have read some articles on how to heave to a cat boat but they mostly involve raising the centerboard which obviously won't work. I also have mainsail only (no Spin or Staysail yet, looking for both) and deep keel. Thanks in advance!

Michael

Re: Heave to with F21?

Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 10:28 pm
by Teke's Pride
As you may have noticed, the Freedom21 will want to round up into the wind when over powered. So to heave to this is what I've done...

If you rig a friction line from the port quarter cleat to the one on the starboard quarter, taking a turn around the tiller on the way. You can point your boat into the wind set you tiller amidships and, using the traveler sheets and mainsheet, trim the mainsail amidships also. You will still need to keep watch and keep a hand on the mainsheet in case of a sudden wind shift. This is the best I've been able to come up with in 7 years. I'd be interested in anyone else's solution.

P.S.: The friction line makes an adequate tiller tamer alowing one to leave the helm to raise/recover the spinnaker while single handing.

Re: Heave to with F21?

Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2017 12:51 pm
by mstmartin
Hi Clarke,

Thanks very much for answering my post! I'll try your suggestion for heve to, it seems very viable.

BTW I've strapped some bungee cords around the tiller to use as a tamer before and it's ok but can't leave it unassisted for too long. Is that what you meant by friction line? One wrap around tiller with shock line or something similar? Thanks again for the advice!

Michael

Re: Heave to with F21?

Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2017 1:42 am
by Teke's Pride
Hi Michael,

I have used a pair of bungee cords before but didn't care for it as it only allows for amidships.

What I use is one of my mooring lines. Pull it taunt from the first cleat make a turn around the tiller and then cleat it tight on the opposite side. You want it loose enough to steer but tight enough to stay where you leave it. This will allow one to set the helm to counter any weather or lee helm and leave the helm for couple of minutes once you get the angle right. It will slacken as the day goes on so you will have to tighten it occasionally. When single handing, I use this after engaging the outboard at idle to keep the boat heading into the wind as I lower the main. I can even run forward and pull the last of the main down hand over hand without worrying about a sudden shift in course.