Sailing a Cape Cod Mercury with no Jib and No Rudder:
Video
Rudderless Sailing: Backward to Forward Jibe
Synopsis: Depart dock forwards. Stop and reverse boat by backing main. Round stern upwind to backward to forward jibe. Proceed forwards and land boat.

Detail:
Wind is coming from left. Nice looking departure from dock at 0:31 seconds into video. When trying to recover main sheet at 0:34 seconds a leeward heel results in the bow heading too far upwind. Between 36 and 45 seconds a windward heel is applied to point the bow further downwind and pick up boat speed. At 0:48 seconds attempt to back main but the wind is too strong and the boom is let go (0:49), averting a capsize. At 0:58 seconds the boom and main are successfully backed and backwards motion is established. At 1 minute the stern is turning upwind. At 1 minute 5 seconds (1:05) there is enough windward heel to stop the stern turning upwind. At 1:09 the boom is backed fully against the upwind stay, causing the stern to head downwind (if not corrected, the boat would simply tack instead of jibe). At 1:12 weight is shifted to leeward but this is not enough to get the stern heading upwind. At 1:13 the boom is brought closer to the centerline, causing more leeward heel and the stern starts heading upwind. The backward to forward jibe occurs at 1:18. Between 1:26 and 1:33 windward heel is applied to arest the turn and straighten out the heading. At 1:35 leeward heel is applied to head upwind and parallel the dock for landing.
Rudderless Sailing: Backwards Departure from Dock
Synopsis: Depart from Dock backwards. Round stern into wind for backward to forward jibe. Tack and approach dock for landing forwards.

Detail: Wind is coming from camera (camera is approximately upwind from sailboat). At 0:04 conversation Adam:"Dr. Phil..." Phil:'Hey can you look after my camera?'. At 0:05 depart dock backwards. Distant sailboat is Marcin. Adam: "What?... Well, where is it?" At 10 seconds into video begin backing main to maintain backwards speed, wind is strong and boat is near capsize (white is part of centerboard out of water). Note side drift as boat speed is near zero. At 0:14 successfully back main. Backwards boat seed starts at 18 seconds into video. Backwards to forwards jibe occurs at 0:21. Conversation at 0:25 Adam: "Not bad... He does well with that..." Foreign Accent: "Oh... he capsize... on tuesday." Adam: " Yeah?" Foreign accent: "he capsize on tuesday." Adam: "Yeah, but what I'm saying is...". At 30 seconds windward heal is applied to head bow down wind and pick up speed in anticipation of tack. At 32 seconds the main is sheeted in along with a little leeward weight producing a leeward heal and the bow turns upwind for the tack. At 0:38 seconds the boat is in irons and the boat rights. At 0:40 seconds get on leeward side of boom and gently back main sail to turn bow downwind on new (starboard) tack. Wind has shifted to left. At 0:50 the bow starts turning downwind and windward heal is applied to pick up boat speed towards dock. At 0:57 Marcin approaches dock in sailboat to far right, appearing to shoot for the dock close to the camera. Conversation at 1:04, Phil: 'Marcin!' Marcin: "Yeah?" Phil: 'Watch out for my digital camera', Marcin:"Sorry?... Oh, I see it.", Phil: 'Thank you'. At 1:17 main sail is sheeted in to turn bow upwind and make track of boat parallel to dock for landing. At 1:23 get off boat, stop digital camera.
Rudderless Sailing: Bow Cam, Departure from Dock
Evasive Manuver
Rudderless Spinnaker Flying Video Footage
Copyright Phil Rossoni 6/30/2007
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