Technique for Getting Home with No Wind

Its some years ago now but we towed our rescue boat home to Sheppey after a breakdown off Liegh-on-Sea.  The recue boat was a dory with about 3 people on board and a 40 horse motor on the back.  We used the most powerfull boat we had available - a 5o5 and learn't a few tricks.

It was obvious that we couldn't tow from the stern as one snatch of the rope would have pulled the transom off, also we realised you must tow from approximately the centre of the boat or you can't luff or bear away because of the tow pulling the stern around.  You also can't go to windward because you go so slowly the centreboard doesn't bite.

However it was a light to medium day and a reach and it took us about 3 hours for the 7 miles.  We used a rope bridle in the middle of the boat and towed from a position of in front and to windward of the dory.  We had 3 in the 5o and 2 in the rescue boat.  Fortunately the Thames was flat or it might have been another story.

As you know the 4000 is a tippy boat so in no wind you don't have the stabilising pressure of the wind on sails.  Therefore leave the board right down to at least dampen any rocking motion and make sure the rudder is central (somebody's leg on the tiller extension will hold it that way).   Both move outwards to the racks and lay face down.  You can either paddle with an arm over the side of the rack or better still through the gap between rack and deck.

The boom can be released from the mainsail at the aft end but then the boom is on the deck and in the way of the tiller.  The mainsail being fully battened powers up in the slightest breeze - even without the boom so if there is even the slightest waft of air one of the crew will have to abandon paddling and balance the boat and steer.  But then if there is even a waft of air you are probably going to go as fast by sailing.

One tip when sailing high performance boat in force 1 is don't ever try and point.  Close reach everywhere.  The sails are too stiff to read and the boat is inclined to go into irons and is almost impossible to get out of irons without paddling.  Sail on a reach and tack through 120 degrees believe me you'll get there faster.  Don't try pumping this sort of boat the big roach high up and skinny centreboard just turns the boat head-to-wind and you're stuffed.

On a river like the Medway (strong tides) tie a 6mm x 6m rope to the base of the mast and hold the end up to any passing boat with power - someone will get the message.  Or wait an hour or so.  A calm is an equalibrium of all the forces in the atmosphere - such a balance will never last long.  If you paddle you'll be lucky to make a mile in an hour, wait an hour and a breeze will probably arise and give you enough to cover that mile and another in the next hour.

In my next post I'm going to share my experience of towing a power boat from a dinghy.

 

depends a bit on the type of boat. on a laser 1 the Standing on the foredeck technique, rolling the boat by holidng the mast works really well (just remember to lift the rudder 1st). I won a 'cheating' race by a mile once with that one..

Your own tow rope is (in theory) an absolute must

Think salvage laws

Stick your thumb out and get a tow? It helps if you have your own tow rope.

Otherwise "against the tide but really hard work and took ages" - yes it will.