Tacking the Scot,

Submitted by fhauffe on Tue, 05/01/2007 - 10:50
When I tack my Scot, it looks like a Marks brother's movie. I think it should look more a ballet. Can anyone give me a detailed description of how they do it (tacking) with particular attention to footwork, control of the tiller extension, and handling of the mainsheet. Thanks, Floyd
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Go here: http://www.

Submitted by glbennett on Tue, 05/01/2007 - 21:29.
Go here: http://www.sailingtexas.com/Movies/sailingvideosindex.html The site has several videos of tacking a Flying Scot. Greg Flying Scot #1087

Hi Floyd, Assuming it is windy enough that you want to sit on

Submitted by Luckenbach on Tue, 05/15/2007 - 23:16.
Hi Floyd, Assuming it is windy enough that you want to sit on the windward side of the boat: Get on a close reach or close hauled course Get your speed up Smoothly move the tiller toward the sail until the end of the tiller is right over the rubrail, the tiller will be at about a 45 degree angle. If you are on the windward side use the extension. Place the end of the extension on the deck so it won't move while you change sides, it will be near the middle of the boat. As the boom crosses the middle of the boat, still holding the extension down on the deck, stand, face the rear of the boat and then sit on the other side. Your body should cross the center of the boat at the same time the boom does, so don't let it hit you in the head. Move the extension back alongside the tiller and look at the sail. As the luff begins to disappear from the sail, start bringing the rudder back near the center to slow the turn. At the instant the luffing disappears, look forward and sight along the forestay at something on land and stop the turn. This landmark is your "sight" so you will know the boat is not turning and your sail will be near full power, until the wind shifts at least. Do not try to guess how far you will turn in the tack. The higher you are pointing, the less you will have to turn to complete the tack, on a beam reach you will turn 180 degrees. Also, the wind may shift directions while you are tacking, so use the boom crossing the middle of the boat to determine when your body moves, and the disappearance of the luffing in the mainsail to determine when the tack is finished. In high winds, everything happens faster. In light winds you may not want to move to the other side with every tack. In big waves it helps a bit to watch for a somewhat flat spot to tack in, since the waves do slow you down. Hope this helps. David Love the Flying Scot

Floyd.

Submitted by karafiath on Mon, 06/11/2007 - 17:02.
Floyd. My preferred way to tack is to keep facing forward in the boat during the tack. It may be a bit more awkward at first than the turn backwards tacking shown in the web site films but I feel that it is important to keep facing forward. Initiate the tack by pulling on the tiller with your inboard arm. As you move accross the boat, facing forward switch the hand holding the tiller. At this point both hands are briefly behind your back. By facing forward you will be able to keep track of how far the boat has turned and you will be able to judge when the jib just fills with wind on the new tack. In light wind you can cleat the main to get comfortable with the process. In heavier wind you do not want to cleat the main and you want to work out your system of switching both the main sheet and the tiller behind your back. I think turning around in the boat and facing backwards during the tacking process can disorient you from knowing at all times the direction in which you are heading the boat. The tendency is then to turn the boat too far. I hope this helps. Gabor