Look to make
sure
it
is
totally clear where you
will
be backing.
Walk boat out backwards until
it
is
floating. Give
boat a big shove
and
jump
onto
the
bows. Keeping
the
transoms
out
of
the
water, have the crew hold jib clew
out as far forward as necessary
to
fill
jib with air
and
keep boat moving backwards. Keeping
the
transoms
out of
the
water
will
keep
the
boat moving straight out.
When you are far out
enough
(usually
about
100
feet)
t
the
jib go, move to
the
proper
sailing positions,
drop
rudders down,
sheet
in
both sails
and
go.
TACKING
Before starting your tack, be
sure
you
are
sailing to
weather with
good
speed
(sheeted
in
and
traveler
centered).
Do
not
attempt to tack while sailing
on
a
reach.
I
Make a
smooth
turn to windward using
about
one-
half
the
amount
of
rudder
throw. Turning
the
rudders
too
sharply
will
stall
the
boat
and
bring
it
to an
abrupt
stop.
When
the
bows are pointing into
the
wind, release
the
main
sheet
1
or
2 feet. Leave the jib cleated.
The
skipper should now
move
aft, into
the
center,
and
swing
the
hiking stick to
the
new side.
Do
not
straighten
the
rudders out.
If
you
do
, you
will
find
yourself
in
"irons" (boat pointing directly into wind
making
no
headway).
Leave
the
jib cleated until
the
boat
is
on
its new
heading. When the main
"pops"
to
the
new side,
release
the
jib, bring
it
across quickly
and
sheet
in.
Keeping
the
jib
on
the windward side
is
called
"backwinding". It helps pull the bows
around
until your
_
30
_ tack
is
completed.
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