Jibing

Newsgroups Archive Prior to 2025
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I completely agree with Butch’s advice–know yourself and know your boat before deciding whether you’re comfortable with the Hudson River gybe or any other maneuver.

I will say I don’t think the Hudson River gybe has to be as scary as the video looks. I don’t duck like the skipper in the video does and FATE does have a bimini and a few items on the stern rail. (But a clear stern rail would be better.)

I have found a few tricks that work for me and help ensure success:

– Do the Hudson River gybe only in moderate winds. (Not needed in light winds. In heavier winds, I always chicken gybe.)
– Use the autopilot to turn the boat so that I can pay full attention to the mainsheet. (I just press the +10 degrees button several times.)
– Exaggerate the initial turn. That is, in my example, instead of heading E, turn a bit more to head SE. That way when the boom stops the mainsheet will be quite slack. If it got caught on anything, there is much less potential for damage.
– Facing aft, I grab the mainsheet and help guide it (like a whip) over any potential obstructions. The boom moves very quickly at first, but then quickly slows down and stops.

As I’ve mentioned, I don’t race in any formal way. I’m just a cruiser and day sailor. That said, I’ve gotten in situations (boxed in by other boats and/or land) where the Hudson River gybe has come in handy. I think of it as just another trick that FATE can do. But I’d suggest anyone wanting to try it out for themselves, start on a very light wind day.

Jim Cosgrove
FATE 30U #343
Galesville, MD

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The Hudson River Gybe is scary mostly because we once sailed boats with masts supported by shrouds and performing that maneuver on such boats, in all but the lightest wind, would have been catastrophic. On a Nonsuch, the risks are almost trivial. We have no shrouds for the boom to come up hard against and the risk of the mainsheet fouling is only slightly more than it is on any other maneuver where there is a lot of mainsheet at play. At least that’s what I tell myself but I still have a hard time putting the wheel over to leeward and actually doing it. I try do it once in a while just in case I ever absolutely need to.

Bay Cat, 30U #402
Suttons Bay, MI
USA

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I did it today in about 13 knots of wind and it went very smoothly. I appreciate the discussion.

John Waldhausen

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Having performed many, many mostly planned gybes in nearly all conditions under 25 kts. Wind other than loosing a BBQ off the stern rail (which should have been stowed) I haven’t done an damage to the boat or rig. I agree with David’s comments. Having said that with the rapid tacking of a Nonsuch unless you are racing there is rare need to perform it.

Ray Dykstra

TIMARU NUI

Nonsuch 324 #112

Victoria BC