Places to Learn how to sail a Gaff Cutter in Maryland?

[photojoe]

Does anyone know of sail training for Gaff rigged boats in Maryland? Suggestions and referrals would be greatly appreciated.

Joe

[John B]

Well, no. But you sail them the same as a bermudan rig boat except you get scared going downwind and you look forward to all the nice safe windward work.

[Matt J.]

Hey if you find one, let us know so we can do RARUS some justice and sail her properly. ;)

john,
Hhy scared downwind? She goes like stink in a fresh breeze downwind. Upwind was peaceful, though.

[TimH]

just always remember to pull on both the peak *and* the throat halyard with a gaffer when raising the main, and you will be ok. And remember to use those running backstays smile.gif

[John B]

Running backstays Matt. and generally a long boom with a gaff rig so more impetus, things to hook up with the sheet in a crash gybe etc. you're yawl aren't you, shorter boom relatively to cutter or sloop( IN GENERAL).
I'll run by the lee too but I'll cast off the backstay or be standing by to panic.

I find myself getting wound up for the runs... never the beat.

[photojoe]

Well, actually I really don't know how to sail to begin with. :eek: I decided to learn how to sail a gaff rig by using the dart method. I took a dart board and put two pieces of paper on the type of boats, and ended up with a Gaff Cutter. Rather scientific if you ask me.

:D

Does anyone think I should move this to resources as I didn't mean this post to be there.

Cheerio,

Joe

[ 07-29-2003, 04:22 PM: Message edited by: photojoe ]

[John B]

LOL. :D

and no, not particularly

and welcome to the forum. Have you been lurking or have you just discovered this place?.

[photojoe]

Actually, I'm new to sailing in general. Seeing schooners with their tanbark sails, sort of lead me to the Gaff Side. tongue.gif

I just wish I knew where to look for yachtmaster who teaches Gaff Rig sailing..

Joe

[John B]

I meant what I said earlier. the basics are the same . find someone convenient who'll teach you how to sail anything . learn all the terms and go for it. read some books, go to sleep dreaming of thundering down the harbour with an improbable amount of sail up and drawing.( I know I did :D )

[Ian McColgin]

John B is right about the universality.

Leather's gaff book is nice but if you can find in a used book shop Callahan's "Learning to Sail" (also in the first part of "Yachtsman's Omnibus" it will be like having wise old Uncle Clem right there with you. And he covers gaff trim etc.

Getting rides with everyone and getting other sailors to come out with you also help.

So far as I can tell, very few are actually making a living at teaching in gaff rigged boats or in providing affordable individual instruction aboard your boat.

This is a kind of specialized 'after-market' that I toyed with in the past and may again in years to come. It's really fun and it's very rewarding for the instructor to take someone right through boat ownership from yard work through launching and rigging and a couple of weeks of basic sailing.

The problem is, of course, economics. I was charging folk $400 for a really long day so they could have the privilege of my puttering about their boat making them do all the work.

G'luck

[photojoe]

I know the book basics of sailing a gaff rig, I just wanted to actively apply it.

I know the main goes up first, then the stay, then the jib. You trim the stay, then the main, then the jib and that the jib should mimic the staysail's shape.

But what I'm really interesting in finding out is those juicy tidbits of knowledge. Such as to get extra luff tension in your main, you can rig your 5:1 purchase by leaving both ends unteathered, secure one and then using block and tackle on the other end to haul away.

So I guess then my question changes to...

So does anyone know where all Gaffers hang out and any clubs or associations in Maryland?

Matt Joyce, if you need a sailing hand for Rarus, I'll help for the experience alone. :D

Joe

[Hughman]

http://www.baydreaming.com/clubs.htm

http://www.oldgaffersassociation.org/

These might help