There are a lot of Tom's on this site.

Thanks for the tips! If you don't have a jiffy-system, what does your reefing setup look like now? Do you simply tie lines through the reef grommets and around the boom? Isn't that how they did it back in the day?

Tom

:: Hi Tom,
::
:: I've been single-handing my Tuna for the whole time I've
:: owned it. (My friends don't like to sail).
::
:: While tacking, I don't adjust the main sheet.
:: Furthermore, I don't adjust the traveler if I intend to
:: tack often. I just leave the main sail where it is,
:: sheeted in almost all the way, with the traveler in the
:: middle. I only use the traveler once I've escaped the
:: Oakland estuary and can tack much less often.
::
:: As for the jib sheets. I almost hesitate to tell you my
:: own technique wrt the jib sheets while tacking. I might
:: be doing something wrong. I used to sail with other
:: sailors when I was on a J/24, but on my Tuna I've always
:: done it by myself, or with friends who are not sailors
:: and so couldn't correct me. For all I know, my technique
:: is horrible.
::
:: When I tack, I throw the tiller alee and then briefly
:: drop the tiller when passing through the head of the
:: wind, so I can sheet the jib. I drop the tiller right
:: when the jib starts to luff, then sheet the jib, then
:: pick up the tiller again. If I time it just right, and
:: have just the right momentum, the boat will coast thru
:: the tack even though I'm not holding the tiller most of
:: the time. If I time it right, then I pick up the tiller
:: just as the boat is completing the tack.
::
:: As for reefing. I've not found a good way of doing that
:: while single-handing. I'm considering installing a jiffy
:: reefing system to make it easier, since my boat doesn't
:: have it right now. At present, reefing causes me great
:: difficulty.
::
:: I do not leave the cockpit for any reason when I'm
:: single-handing out on the Bay. I figure it's too
:: dangerous to walk around on the deck. If I fall
:: overboard then there is a big chance I won't survive. I
:: will only leave the cockpit while in the Oakland
:: estuary, before I'm on the bay proper, because I could
:: swim to shore there.
::
:: My boat came with a little bungee thingy attached to the
:: tiller which I can wrap around the cam cleat for the
:: main sheet. I think the previous owner improvised and
:: installed it. He showed it to me while I took a test
:: sail. It will hold the tiller in place and keep a steady
:: course for about five seconds on average.
::
:: With regard to the 80% jib. I went looking for a used
:: one of those a few months ago and couldn't find one. My
:: boat came with the class jib which I think is 110% or
:: 120%. Like you, I was thinking that an 80% jib would be
:: useful, since winds are very strong on the Bay during
:: the summer.
::
:: One more thing. Don't take my advice too seriously, as I
:: don't know what I'm talking about.
::

:: -Tom W

::
::
:: :: Hi all,
:: ::
:: :: I'm a relatively new tuna owner, and have been doing
:: :: great with double handed sailing. I'll bring an
:: :: inexperienced friend aboard to hold the tiller while I
:: :: raise the sails, and to work the jib and main sheets
:: :: when sailing.
:: ::
:: :: My question is for those who have the dual main sheets
:: :: across the top and sides of the cabin. How do you single
:: :: hand with that configuration?! I am not ready to start
:: :: re-arranging my running rigging or install new winches
:: :: and blocks. Am I out of luck? Sometimes a guy just wants
:: :: to sail alone, ya hear? (and a single-hand race sounds
:: :: really fun also)
:: ::
:: :: Thanks!
:: ::
:: :: Oh, does anyone have any spare jibs? I'd be looking to
:: :: buy an 80% or storm jib for those bigger scary days.