Ep 55: Gybing Single Handed

At least I am the first to like this video! Happy New Year, Captain!

woohoo~ incredible ~do you wanna more followers?- aCrpe-

I prefer to gybe. Even with the main sheeted in all the way the headsail will keep you moving. When tacking there is always the chance that if you don't do it right you end up in irons or can't complete the tack and get pushed back the way you came. I also personally have trouble tacking on my new boat because it is cutter rigged and I haven't quite figured out how to smoothly get the genoa between the forestay and staysail stay. I've only tried a couple times so far so I'll eventually get it worked out.

Great Instructor

I've seen some sailors use a preventer line. In what circumstances would you use a preventer during a condition such as this, and how would you complete the gybe with a preventer, if it is advisable? Such a great video and happy new year!

Thanks Marco. Could you explain what you did with the Autopilot ? Did you add 40 - 60 degrees with 10 degrees incremental steps? Some AP have an accidental gybe preventer and you cannot change the course for a gybe with one push. Good and informative video. Well done.

May I ask a hypothetical based on your experience? - if there was a situation where one was at sea and could not enter any nation, for example due to covid lockdowns or a world war, etc. Is it still possible to find remote places to lay low and unnoticed? Or, is it a situation where no matter what small island you anchor at, you will be detected and apprehended? thanks very much in advance.

Hey Marco. Hope you're well.
I recently got interested in SailGP and started watching it but whole sailing lingo kinda went over my head.
My question is, will your beginner to sailing series help in making me understand SailGP?

I enjoy your videos very much. Even though I have been sailing for many years, watching these videos have "plugged a lot of holes" in my knowledge. Just wondering what your thoughts are on rigging up a gybe preventer. Is this a good idea, or not so much?

Hope you're well Marco. I miss your videos!

I've watched all of your videos so far, such a great series and great information. I purchased your docking series and I'm looking forward to your anchoring series!

I have now watched all of ypur videos to date, they have been very useful to refresh my knowledge, which is very rusty after a 16 year sailing gap. However, your last video was posted 6 months ago, are you ok? Are you continuing to do this?
Thanks

Do you ever use a preventer when running and jibing? I just completed a solo two-week cruise and made extensive use of the preventer and it was very "destressing". By having a preventer on, I could jibe with no concern of a crash jibe because the boom could not move so it got not inertial up when it jibed unexpectedly as it sped across the boat. When I jibed intentionally, I would do as you do with the main sheet to ease the transition but with the preventer instead of the main sheet or traveler.

Nice video as usual ! Very sad that it is the last one on the list. I hope everything is going well, wish you the best. You have been very helpful for thousands of boat lovers across the world

Hope all is well in Canada. Missing your videos. Wanted to drop a line and see how it is going.

Your videos are so clear and helpful. Even for experienced sailors! I like how here, the vang is off, so when the gybe does happen, some of the shock is taken up by the sail moving the boom upwards rather than just 100% on the mainsheet. Hope all is well and more lessons coming soon!

Are you still doing this channel?

Thank you so much for your series!!! I am a semi-retired ER Doc just learning to sail on my Hunter 34. Your videos have been so well organized and informative as i take up this new activity. Learning the lines, learning to reef, learning to strap in and sail safely is invaluable. Thank you so much for your contribution!

Best to you!!

Doug Malcolm
Alameda CA
Ballard WA

As I understand it, tacking is turning the bow by using the jib whereas gybing is turning the stern by using the main. Both turn the boat 90 degrees but both use different methods. When is one method preferable over the other?

Thank you so much for showing how to do this!

It's called a controlled Gybe...& should be done every time you Gybe the sails.
Additionally it takes the strees & strain out of the sails & the boom specifically the goose neck.

some autohelms have turns specifically for controlled gybing

Many thanks for your videos ! Just one question / comment : you do not speak (and do not use) your traveller for the main sail. For me it is a key tool for gybing in the weather conditions you were in. Downwind at the beginning (to release wind pressure), in the middle before gybing, and very quickly downwind after the gybe (before or after gybing the front sail, depending on the wind and sea conditions).
All my greetings from Britanny !