Less than 3 kts of wind

[Sublime]

The water was like glass for the most part. For a good amount of the time, there was so little wind the wind indicator didn't register. At times, the sails hung loose. I wanted more wind but that's what I was given. Also, the new telltails I put on the main sail were stuck to the sail by static.

I had read Don's book so I let the halyard loose to move the draft back and tightened the outhaul and vang. Those are pretty much the only controls I have. No movable fairleads for the jib. I managed to make enough way with only a 100% jib to be able to tack. When I turned to come in and had the wind behind me, I loosened the vang and outhaul.
I hope I'm learning.

Those were difficult conditions. At times I couldn't tell what direction the small amount of wind was coming from. It wasn't enough to feel on my face or move the tell tails even (the ones which weren't stuck to the sail).
I'm not sure if I got to see the differences of good trim vs bad. Maybe this weekend will be better.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Try technology

Get wind-seeker sail, as they call 'em.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Light wind conditions require light wind sails. My asymmetrical (2 oz material) helped a lot as it fills with 2 knots of wind and while not "smokin" performance we can make 1.5 knots boat speed in 3 knots of wind. Much better than the pinwheeling down the bay on the tide we did with the "normal" wind sails

 

[Alan]

you did much of the right things with your controls but you don't say what your apparent wind angle was on the beat. In those wind conditions you need a larger wind angle to gain boat speed. As the boat speed increases the apparent wind will increase and the wind angle will move forward. Likewise, turning to run requires very large gybe angles. Running down wind in 2 to 3 knots of true breeze is dead slow and removes all sense of any wind (as you noted). A 2 oz spinnaker for this type of wind speed is FAR too heavy. This is the realm of a .5 or .6 oz spinnaker. 1.5 and 2 oz spinnakers would be reserved for 15 to 20 knots of wind.

 

[Sublime]

you did much of the right things with your controls but you don't say what your apparent wind angle was on the beat.

That's because I wasn't entirely sure where the wind was coming from. Also, what wind was there was also shifty.
At one point I was on a beam reach. Then I had to gybe. I never turned the boat. It was all a wind shift.
Even funnier is that once I gave up, started the motor and began tying the canvas down, the boat started rocking as if a powerboat went by. I had smooth rolling waves coming at me. I looked further out and saw little white caps headed my way.
The wind did a complete about face and was a nice steady breeze, maybe 15 kts? But, I had already packed things up. Later that evening some clouds came in so I think we must have been hit with a small front and perhaps why the wind was so confused.
Will try again tomorrow.

 

[Don Guillette]

Sublime: You done the right things to set up for very light conditions. You've tried to make the sails as flat as possible because the wind, what little there is, doesn't have the force to get around the a sail that has any draft depth (belly). If you induce any belly the sail will stall. Obviously, I've not given a scientific explanation but stated simply what the situation is.

From a main and jib sail trim control stand point on your particular boat you've got "to dance with who brung you" and use what you've got. There is one more thing you could add to your bag of tricks in very light conditions and that is to raise the boom about 10 degrees above horizontal using your topping lift. If you don't have a topping lift just lift the boom by hand and see if it helps. If it works then add a topping lift - if you don't have one.

 

[Sublime]

Today's conditions were better. They started out perfect and the wind increased so I got to see some of the effects of changing the shape of the sail. I had an inexperienced person with me so I had tightened the halyard and loosened the vang but with the jib up, she would still heel over enough to worry my guest. Rather than reef, I rolled up the jib which made things more comfortable. My boat has pretty good manners without the jib.


One thing I was having trouble with was getting the bottom of the sail trimmed. I wanted the power coming from lower on the sail than up high in order to reduce heel. But if I got the bottom portion of the sail trimmed correctly, then about 2/3s of the sail up high was luffing (read: more than just a bubble). I assumed it was from too much twist. So I barely tightened the vang which straightened the sail too much and I had too much power. So, I wonder if this is a problem with the vang or if what I really needed to do was reef? I bet gusts were 20 kts and they say my boat likes a reef at about 15 kts to be comfortable while under jib and main. I was under main alone at the time.
If you're twisting the sail to spill air off the top of it, is it supposed tot luff or bubble?
Also, I need a better cleat for the vang. I want to be able to pop it loose from the cockpit but right now, someone has to go forward. I try to keep everyone in the cockpit as much as possible since I don't have side decks.

Thanks! Y'all are a great help!

 

[Don Guillette]

Sublime: When the mainsail is "twisted Off" there is no bubble and it doesn't luff. I'm pretty sure you know what a twisted off sail looks like but for other reading this let me show you. Actually, just about every advertisment in every sailing mag show twisted sails. I guess it looks photogenic or something.

Since you may not have a sailing mag handy, try this. Form your right hand as if you were going to salute. Now put your hand in front of your face and have your thumb touch your nose - that's so your hand is in the right attitude. Now just turn your fingers to the right keeping your palm straight. That's what a twisted sail looks like. When you turn your fingers to the right that's called open and when you turn your fingers back to straight up and down, that's called closing and closed.