Have you tried to hove to?

[hoppy]

Have you tried heaving to in strong wind conditions?

I've tried it in light conditions as a test but yesterday I tried it for the first time in a force 7 and a choppy sea. I was thinking about how the boat would go hove to in those condition and as I was planning to tack and needed to go the toilet, I decided to try it.

I was sailing close hauled with 2 reefs in the main and genoa and turned into the wind and then once I was on the opposite tack I tied up the helm with full lock. I did not couch the sails at all.

It was quite a surreal experience as everything went so calm onboard. I the conditions I was sailing it would have been a challenge to make a meal, but hove to it would have been so easy.

If you haven't tried it in heavy conditions, you should test it out.

[ianpowolny]

Hoppy,

Used it a few times: newbies needing to do things down below but last time was when the boat wasn't handling so well in 2-3m swell and F4/5 and I found the anchor locker scuppers were block and the anchor locker was full of water. Hove to and sorted the problem. As you say everything calms down.

Ian

[iancymru]

Also use it when single handed to put in a reef, the kettle on or de ballasting 

[Zanshin]

All of the models I've tried to heave-to in boisterous conditions have done so (43DS, 49DS and the J57), but I've had to play with the sail balance to get my preferred angle to the wind/waves.

[zofiasailing]

Yes, we have hove to with and without a parachute anchor for up to 14hrs at a time and would recommend it to anyone. As hoppy says, everything calms down and it gives you a chance to rest, eat, sleep etc especially if you are short handed. Drift is around 0.5nm.
Would also be an effective 'crash stop' in a MOB situation.
Jon Sanders is an Australian solo circumnavigator. Made his name by completing 2 consecutive solo circumnavigations before turning around and doing the 3rd in the opposite direction. FYI he has just commenced his 10th this week. Evidently it is his practice (if not racing) to drop his sails at 35knots and hove to. On long passages, it can preserve your sails, boat and sanity.

[chuckr]

We did in the middle of the Atlantic when we made some mistakes and got overly tired and not enough food. We just parked the boat by hoving to and took a 6 hour sleep and ate a huge meal and reset our attitude - then we set off again with the attitude of a marathon runner


it went well and we just drifted - good sleeping and easy meal prep