I really like the advise on the turnning the vang around. I single hand a lot and same as centerline, the wind can come up fast and shift. Makes it tough to get to the vang to release it. I added a 2 line reefing system this year. Best move I,ve done. The Mac is a tender boat. Yes it can be sailed full sail up to 10 - 12 knts, but its tricky. When the wind is a steady 10, I will reef my main. That way I am ready for whatever happens. With the reefing lines it takes me about 45 seconds to set the reef by myself. I also have a 4-1 purchase on my outhaul. Again makes flattening the sail soooo much easier. Unfortunately these boats are pretty basic as far as sail control goes, but they are a cheap boat. With proper controls you can sail these boats in 20-25 knt winds reasonably well. If I ever got hit with what you went through with my wife on board, that would be it for her sailing.
death rolls are different....
- Thread starter centerline
- Start date
- Status
Well didn't you have an interesting weekend! We spent Sunday with the First Lady at Zach's graduation. It was blowing like stink and cold in the shade. Sailing would have been excellent but sometimes you have other priorities.
Death roll, at least on a Laser: Downwind, puff gives too much wind for the sail and the boat oscillates side to side as the sail spills the wind. In my experience you get left, right, swim. or right, left, swim. It's quick.
What you had definitely sounds like a pair of knockdowns. I think it's probably one of the hazards of Detroit and a good reason to keep that keel bolt in. I never saw that kind of shift at Foster or Fern Ridge but I bet you'd see it at Green Peter too, basically any of the lakes with canyons at angles to the lake.
Death roll, at least on a Laser: Downwind, puff gives too much wind for the sail and the boat oscillates side to side as the sail spills the wind. In my experience you get left, right, swim. or right, left, swim. It's quick.
What you had definitely sounds like a pair of knockdowns. I think it's probably one of the hazards of Detroit and a good reason to keep that keel bolt in. I never saw that kind of shift at Foster or Fern Ridge but I bet you'd see it at Green Peter too, basically any of the lakes with canyons at angles to the lake.
Hi Chris, monday afternoon it was...... and I have came to understand the difference between the death roll and the broach..... but at the time it was happening, it really seemed more like it was a roll to the death, however inappropriate it may have been.
and the keel pin is always in....unless im motoring with the sails down, then I raise the keel. it scoots pretty fast that way....
i have the macgregor "wind the mainsail up on the boom" reefing system.... I think I will install something like a jiffy reef system to make things simpler and safer... in addition to a vang modification.....
and yes, detroit lake does have its challenges with its odd wind patterns.... but i suppose they are only odd to those that dont know them......
- Status