Learning to Sail: How to Heave to

Heaving to is an important skill that is often overlooked. It is an excellent storm tactic and it can be used to "park" the boat in open water that is too deep to anchor. I recommend practicing heaving to in fair weather so when things are rough you can do it without have to think too much.

[SailingtheWestWind]

I have watched several videos about heaving too. This is the best and shortest video I have seen. No one ever talked about the traveler, which makes total sense to me now. Thank you for taking time to make this video.

[gregfawcett]

Next time...one idea...if you heave to on starboard tack you have right of way over other sailing vessels. In this video you are hove to on a port tack...which means you have to avoid another sailing vessel on a starboard tack.

[trackie]

Such a calm presentation! I advocate heaving to routinely so that it becomes as natural as tying a shoe. Very useful.

[svourtime]

Best ever and clearest heave to explanation I have ever seen!

[anastasiagyulnazaryan]

I’ve been struggling to understand this sailing concept. Thank you so much for this amazing educational video

[terrysullivan]

We use this quite often to take a lunch break out at sea during a day sail. Takes the heel off and lets everyone relax. On a hot day we sometimes throw a line and bouy off the stern for those who want to swim while hove to.

[TheBangBang]

Very good explanation of heaving to. Liked how you showed each step including if you had a traveler on your sailboat

[jonnorousseau]

The greatest maneuver in sailing, and so very easy to do, requires a bit of time to let the boat stall and to adjust the main to balance the boat correctly before locking off the helm/ lashing the tiller. Great storm sailing/cruising tactic.
Every boat is different, some heave to better than others, and finding the right balance between what the bow and stern are doing is just a matter of practicing in lighter air with different sail trim.
Great practical video.
I've seen some crews using the lazy sheet in conjunction with the working sheet to set the genoa/jib's clew more inboard, but still on the same tack. You preferably want to reef the headsail so the clew is just in front of the shrouds, I wouldn't want to have the headsail, or sheet for that matter chaffing on the shrouds for extended periods. This is why I far prefer a cutter rig with a furling Yankee jib and hank on single sheet self tacking staysail, great close hauled and heaving to with the staysail is super easy

[hstuck]

Very nice - thanks for the great explanation
.

[TroyReedUTUBE]

Thanks for the video. It reminded me that I need to practice this.

[imretired]

Great video. The The explanation of through the water speed vs sideways drift was interesting

[barrel_brd_bskt]

That was really good, concise. Thanks

[ajmalmian]

You videos are great . I am a novice sailor. While I understand most of the terminology it still time to mentally process all the information. It would help if you explain in ordinary language all sailing terms. I have my day skipper ticket and I own a 46 foot Beneteau. I came to sailing at 60 years old .Most instructors have sailed for years .These terms are ingrained mentally. Not so for a novice.

[echochambers]

Watching the end of “From Russia with Love”Brought me here:”Heave to Mr. Bond, Heave to”.

[FabhcunGorm]

Concise, to the point and informative.

[Graimthu]

Tightening the jib before starting makes it work better in some boats. Unclear why you wouldn't just release the main sheet when starting the tack instead of moving traveler late in the maneuver.

[IrregularPineapples]

great video and demonstration, thanks~

[lesliejohnson]

You make everything very clear! I love your videos! Thanks

[thomasklugh]

Isn't there a way to understand heaving to without the electronics, that is, what if you don't have the electronics and you have to just understand the "feeling" one has as an experienced sailor of the opposing forces of: 1. The wind in the sails, and 2. The current against the rudder?

[nomadequipment]

I usually just gybe out of a hove-to position 🤷🏻‍♂️easy peasy.

I like your boat🙂❤