sail without jib

As a novice singlehanded sailor, I would find sailing alot easier without the jib. However I understand that although there is a forward mast mount for jibless sailing, the mirror is difficult to sail, as the mast is not far enough forward. Has anyone, moved the mast further forward to make the mirror easier to sail?
I want to sail jibless, while I increase my experience. At the moment sailing with jib, seems difficult with so much to do.
Any comments please

Given the low power of the Mirror it is best to sail with the jib, especially as it gives greater manoeuvrability.

Whilst it might seem an extra complication to sail with the jib for a novice single-hander, it is worth giving it a go as you can get used to it quite quickly.

Couple of tips which I am sure others will add to:

Use continuous jib sheets - either tie the ends together or pass one end of the jib sheet through the jib clew, through the jib fairlead on one side then straight over to the other fairlead and back up through the clew and tie a figure of 8 in both ends.

By doing this it is easy to grab the sheet from the windward side.

When tacking flick the jib off first, tack, sort yourself out then pull jib on.

Tips from others?

The last couple of weeks I've been sending my son (12) out single handed. I stepped the mast forward and he went jibless, the wind wasn't very strong and he seemed to cope OK. I then tried sailing with the jib as well as the mast stepped forward, this did give some 'interesting' moments!!

When I'm single handed I tie the two jib sheets together, although I think that I may try tying the knot at the jib as it often gets in the way when in the boat. The only tip I have is that before you tack cleat the unused jib sheet, this means that there is less slack to pull in after you have tacked.

Over the winter I am going to try putting wedges under the cleats so that I can cleat the sheet off whilst I am hiked out, this will mean that I don't have to reach into the bottom of the boat.

HTH Andy J

Stick with the jib <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>
As above tie sheets together. Wedges will help alot.
Just get straight in your mind what order you are going to do things on a tack/gybe.
Initially on a tack release the jib & forget about it until manouver complete. It will not take long for you to be backing the jib !
And then the spinnaker......

I've been sailing (cruising) in all conditions this year without a jib and havn't missed it.

I once had to sail without the jib and hated it, I struggled a lot to tack and ended up being toed back. Unless you move your mast step I wouldn't advise it.

Emma Barry



Edited by - Emma Barry on 09 November 2006 18:30:10

When we started as total novices in our Mirror, we tried moving the mast forward and sailing without the jib, but folk pointed out to us that even with the mast shifted, the centres of forces weren't really quite right which was why the boat handled so badly (not just our incompetence) so we were advised to use the jib, even if we just left it flapping at times. Now I find single handing a single sailed boat boring. (except that I keep falling out of our Laser!)

pigs might.....

As others have said, keep the jib and just release it when you decide to start the tack – don’t worry about it flogging for a bit while you sort yourself out.

My big tip is to relax and just face forwards while tacking. Hold the tiller mainsheet in your left hand (if right handed). Just clamp the sheet under your hand on the tiller behind you. You can then complete the tack without worrying about all the swapping hands nonsense and use your right hand for the jib sheet, beer can or ice cream… The only caveat is that you need to be a big fella or the wind needs to be light as otherwise it’s difficult to go from hike to hike with this method. (For the most part I spend my time kneeling in the bottom of the boat.)


“Better drowned than duffers if not duffers wont drownâ€

Thank you for all your usefull comments, I shall try and persevere with the jib.
The one thing that I still find difficult to understand and execute, is facing forward during the tack. I still get drawn into facing aft during the tack, with my hands in a muddle.
Any further tips on this?

It's an aft main boat, so facing backwards works better... for all they say about not being able to see where you're going when you tack, I find that you get into the habit of looking round very quickly and it works well.

64799 "Dolphin"

no you want to tack forward because when you go into faster boats you tack faster so you need to see where you are going

yer but faster boats eg the laser have a centre main so you hold the tiller with daggergrip and cross forwards. when sailing an aft main boat it's useually best to sail with saucepan grip (like your fliping pancakes) at least when your tacking, and there for go backwards through the tack.

flying pigs rock! <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

yer even so what happens if someone is tacking infront of you and you are tacking backwards you could crash straight into them. and it is good practase all of the good mirror sailors eg me tack forwards
ED

I'd like to see you do it, the RYA method says yuo face backwards because it works. And as i said, maybe it's only me but i've got used to it so much than i can face forwards as soon as possible so I don't crash into anything.

64799 "Dolphin"

Don't forget it's single handing with the jib we're discussing here. As Cush says, the idea is to grab the mainsheet in your tiller hand then treat the tied-together-jibsheets as a laser-man (for example)would his centre-main, so you end up using a modified centre-main technique. Unless you are aiming to pass your RYA instructor's licence or are being intensively coached for Mirror stardom you just do what feels most natural for you, even if others consider it a bad habit! (I speak here as the master of bad habits)

pigs might.....