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"Tricky Question" Topic


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558 hits since 9 May 2019
©1994-2025 Bill Armintrout
Comments or corrections?

Blutarski10 May 2019 3:06 p.m. PST

How long does it take to tack a square-rigged warship?

;-)

B

freerangeegg11 May 2019 12:23 a.m. PST

Its not quick
YouTube link

dantheman11 May 2019 3:49 a.m. PST

Nice clip. There are others with different ships, but this is the first one I have seen where they describe step by step.

Blutarski12 May 2019 4:13 a.m. PST

I have accumulated some interesting data over time, which I plan to post here when I get a chance. In brief – time from putting the helm down to turn upwind to the initiation of forward movement on the new tack = (on average) anywhere from 6 to 15 minutes, depending upon wind strength, sea state, class of ship, crew skill.

On of the interesting things I noted from track charts of the tacking routine was that, after having made stays, the ship would be often allowed to fall off all the way to the beam reach before commencing forward movement on the new tack.

B

Stew art14 May 2019 9:07 a.m. PST

something I was always confused on: is tacking faster than wearing?

I thought it was, which is captains would opt to tack vs wear for the advantage of turning faster and of course not giving up position. but now I am not so sure.

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