through the eye and on to the new tack, the main will snap over, the jib
will
backwind momentarily , you pop the jib sheet, the jib snaps over as you
quickly re-cleat the leeward jib sheet and your're off on the new tack.
The reason for doing it this way, is as Cy observed, the little p-15 is
really a light displacement boat, and if you lose momentum, the loss of
power to main and jib, if you try to come through too slowly, compounded
by the energy of an oncoming wave, will just stop the boat dead. Using
the
rudder harder then backing off to center it quickly once the turning
energy
is created will work in heavy winds and avoids the braking action of the
rudder scrubbing off too much speed.. this is a technique that 's
"right"
for one sea and wind condition.. but not necessarily for another. In
light
to medium air, and flat water you often can just let go of the tiller ,
let the
P-15's normal tendency to turn upwind bring her through, then "catch"
the tiller with one hand as you change from one side of the cockpit to
the other, while releasing the upwind jib sheet, and cleating the
downwind
sheet.. if you time this right she just about goes "click" from one
tack
on to the other.. all of this done quickly and smoothly just as the bow
swings five or six degrees onto the new tack ( you're right guys.. this
is hard to explain in words alone..). You can even "roll tack' if you
delay your move to the high side.. "roll tacking" in dinghies is using
your weight to speed the transfer from the hull angle on one tack to
the identical hull angle on the other tack.. quite feasible in the light
P-15. It is of course, important to be absolutely as smooth as
possible, and as
economical in loss of energy and speed as one can.. it is important to
notice
the effects of what you do, the results they cause. Practice as often
as possible,
in as many conditions as possible is the key to developing skill. All
the
best P-15 sailors I have come to know and enjoy as friends here in
Northern
California, are also notable for getting out and sailing as often as
they possibly
can... Oh.. and as a final thought on tacking in heavy air ( I learned
this while
sailing at Port Townsend, Washington)... If you are sailing on reefed
main
only, with the jib hauled down.. the P-15 realllly doesn't want to come
through
on a tack.. raising the board partially to move the center of effort
aft and bearing
off for a lot of speed just before turning did work..finally..
Cheers.. still trying to learn how to do it right...
Bruce
Bruce Hood, P-15 "Aillte", sail no. 1246