Master Mariner

By MasterMariner

Hove to

Is an expression from the past when ships had no propellers but sails. A sailing vessel is hove to when it is at or nearly at rest because the driving action from one or more sails is approximately balanced by the drive from the others. This always involves 'backing' one or more sails, so that the wind is pressing against the forward side of the cloth, rather than the aft side as it normally would for the sail to drive the vessel forwards. The rudder is placed so that, should the vessel make any forward movement, it will be turned into the wind, so as to prevent forward momentum building up.
Hove to is also used for vessels under power. For us it means that it becomes difficult to hold our heading. The auto pilot has to give more and more rudder to hold the vessel steady on course. Finally, she will give maximum rudder and give up. Now it is time to bring the vessel head into the wind and reduce power to minimum steering power. Once into the wind, the auto pilot is in control again. Holding the vessel straight into the wind requires only a small amount of rudder and a small amount of thrust against the rudders. The trick is easy; you only have to make sure that your heading set on your auto pilot is exactly the same as where the wind is coming from with margins on both sides of about five degrees. And then you can sit back and relax and wait until this storm is over.

Try it in large, the rainbow was brilliant. A sharp eye sees even a second one. No Photoshop of course......

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