Woohoo - new Sunfish!!?

Question

...which I have no idea how to sail. What's the best website for learning how to sail a Sunfish? All I can find is what a Sunfish is, but now HOW to sail it.

Thanks!

Answer 1

I have sailed sunfish sailboats for quite a while.  I don't think there are many websites out there that will tell you how to sail a sunfish, but as long as you get the hang of how to sail any boat, a sunfish is easy.  A few tips... The the wind is coming from your side or close to head on, the more you have the mainsheet pulled in (the rope that connects the boom to the pulley) the more speed and pwoer you will have - if you feel like you are going to flip or too fast, let out the mainsheet, you will slow down.   When the wind is coming from behind you, the more the sail is let out, the more power....

Tack (pushing the rudder, tiller and tiller extension away from you - you will turn into the wind this is the most common way to turn)  Jibe ( pulling rudder, tiller and tiller extension towards you)  just make sure before you do these maneuvers you make sure you get ready to duck - the boom will come accross very quickly.

there are several ways to rig a sunfish - the basic way should have been showed to you - if not, you pull the rope that is connected to the upper boom (i can't remember the name of it!) and thread it through the eyelit on the top of the mast, the pull it through the eyelit on the boat deck.  Finally, tie it off at the cleat.  The higher the sail, and tighter the rope, ther better off you will be!

good luck!

this website could help with some basics: http://www.wikihow.com/Sail-a-Boat

this will help with rigging:

http://www.westcoastsailing.net/boatfile...