Hi All. I have a Newbridge Coromandel that I hope to do some cruising on. I sail her in a small harbour most of the time and she has 2 issues that make it all a little interesting:
1) She won't come off the wind even if I ease the mainsheet and put the rudder hard over. This is obviously concerning in a small harbour with lots of boats. If I want to go from beating to running it is nigh on impossible.
2) She won't go through the wind when I tack. I have to keep a paddle in the cockpit to paddle myself round.
I have spent quite a while on the boat with the sail in various degrees of reef. I believe these boats are know for having a small rudder so this may not help but it feels more signifcant than that. The sail has bendy buttons that were fitted when I bought her but when reefed I can get the sail fairly flat.
Could the sail be to far back? I guess that would keep her from bearing off.
Any thoughts or ideas would be much appreciated. I want to sail with out an outboard at some point but daren't do that with her sailing as she is.
Thanks in advance. John.