GENERAL INFO
Instructional Guidelines
for
Teaching in Lido 14's
PHASE III - Jibing
A. JIBING
Talk through everything the student will have to do to jibe, demonstrate the technique to the student, and then have the student do it. As in tacking, jibes can be performed either looking toward the stern or toward the bow. Experienced sailors differ in the particulars of jibing, and the following example (looking toward the stern) should not be considered the only way to jibe.
1. Start from a dead run. The jibe should be started from a dead run (when the shroud telltale streams straight ahead, and the jib collapses when on the same side as the mainsail), and not from a broad reach or from a position of sailing by the lee. Starting the jibe from a dead run makes the jibe much more stable albeit less "exciting". Distribute the crew so that the boat sails on an even keel. Warn them to keep low so that the boom cannot hit them.
2. Jibing maneuver. The student should be between the tiller and the boom. After the student has become accustomed to facing the wind, with the tiller placed against his/her hip or side, s/he should say "prepare to jibe" and begin pulling in the mainsheet (between the traveler and the boom) hand over hand. Pulling in the mainsheet will cause the boat to head up into the wind, and will generally cause the tiller to be pushed against the student's side, so the student can steer by moving his/her body from side to side. S/he may have to reach down and grab the tiller occasionally to steady the boat, especially in light winds. It may help to steer a course slightly up from a dead run. After the boom is pulled in almost to the centerline of the boat, the student should hold the mainsheet with the hand closest to the boom (do not hold the boom itself), grasp the tiller with the other hand, say "jibe ho", push the tiller away from him/her to fall off, and duck his/her head as the wind pushes the boom across the centerline of the boat. The tiller should then immediately be moved opposite to the direction of the boom, in order to return the boat to a dead run. The mainsheet should be let out through the hand to save wear and tear on the traveler and rigging.
3. Tiller movement. In performing the jibe, the actual movement of the tiller should be minimal (4 to 6 inches away from the centerline). Because the boat responds slowly to the tiller/rudder movement, the student should not push the tiller an additional amount unless it becomes obvious that the boat will not jibe. This usually happens at times when the jibe has been started from a broad reach and not from a dead run. Repeat jibe several times.
4. Strong Winds. Instruct the student to keep the boat on a dead run throughout the jibe, as this will be the most stable course. Many students either let go of the tiller or apply little resistance to the tiller after a jibe, which results in the boat immediately heading upwind, generating strong heeling forces and potentially ending in a capsize. The student should be told to strongly resist the tiller being pulled from him/her after a jibe in strong winds.
Jibing looking forward. For jibing while looking toward the bow of the boat, have the student pull the mainsheet in from between the mainsheet cleat and the boom, instead of from between the traveler and the boom. The advantages of looking forward are the ability to watch the main, jib, telltale and obstacles in your path, and less disorientation for beginners.
