| | going astern - 2009/06/01 21:15
My Contessa,newly acquired this year, is finally ready for launch. Looking at her long keel and two-blade prop, I am not feeling confident about her handling under power astern and would be grateful for any advice from experienced owners. Perhaps I am worrying unnecessarily?
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| | Re:going astern - 2009/06/02 11:53
Take it easy and practise. When motoring either ahead or astern in confined space, less (power) is definately more. With correct use of the throttle and tiller you will find she can turn around almost in her own length going forward. Most of all just take it easy and do not put pressure on yourself by thinking people are looking at you. If it takes 3 or more attempts to do something then that is fine and far better than trying to do a manouever too quickly and ending up getting stuck or hitting something. Have fun
G.
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| | tony_lavelle
Senior Boarder | | | | Re:going astern - 2009/06/05 12:51
From bitter and expensive experience I suggest you turn to starboard (ie clockwise) if your stern kicks to port in reverse. That way you can use reverse throttle without cancelling your turn. In a confined space Just leave your rudder hard to starboard and go back and forth gently with the engine. Turn the other way (to port, ie anti-clockwise) if your boat kicks to starboard in reverse.
Tony
Dulali
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| | tony_lavelle
Senior Boarder | | | | Re:going astern - 2009/06/05 12:53
From bitter and expensive experience I suggest you turn to starboard (ie clockwise) if your stern kicks to port in reverse. That way you can use reverse throttle without cancelling your turn. In a confined space Just leave your rudder hard to starboard and go back and forth gently with the engine. Turn the other way (to port, ie anti-clockwise) if your boat kicks to starboard in reverse.
Tony
Dulali
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| | Re:going astern - 2009/12/10 21:15
Agree with Tony completely ! understand how your propwash and then practice in a marina on a quiet, windless day .... and if in doubt have a boat hook, roving fender and light footed nible crew member at the ready 
Cheers, Andrew
If the memories are better than the dreams, then it's all over
www.contessa26moonshine.me.uk
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| | Re:going astern - 2010/03/08 01:26
I've had more success reversing my Contessa 26 than I thought I would have. The things I do / have noticed are:
- the turning circle in reverse is a lot wider than in forwards. This can work to your advantage: if you muff it up in reverse then going forwards is likely to be a more manoeuvrable experience
- when starting in reverse, be ready for the prop walk. I tend to pre-compensate by slewing Cervisia in the opposite direction to the propwalk and setting the rudder in the opposite direction to the propwalk until I've got some reverse momentum
- once moving in reverse with the engine running, I seem to be able to more easily compensate for propwalk
- start a reversing maoeuvre from as close to stationary as possible. If you start from moving forward, then I think you just start off with a slew (propwalk) to the side and no initial reverse progress
- I'm quite a fan of giving her a bit of welly in reverse. Once you have got enough speed to get where you want to go (such that you anticipate that you will glide gracefully to a stop at your destination), you can put the engine in neutral and then propwalk is irrelevant but you are still going backwards and can steer
- going forwards is always a good way to get out of a sticky situation when you're in a reversing situation
- a quick jab of forwards can be useful when going backwards to straighten things up.
- I think it is a never a good idea to get yourself in a position where the only way out of a problem is to reverse (like ending up in some narrow dead end with the bows pointing at the dead end)
- there are some manoeuvres that just aren't going to work and I don't get involved with them
I'm not an expert by any means!
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