I have been sailing primarily on small sailboats for over 50 years and raced unofficially against some of the best racers and generally won based on certain principles. As a former dealer, I suggested the following to my customers.
Never heel over so much to scar the better half and children or you will loose someone overboard and/or scare them to death that you will be sailing by yourself in the future.
If you want to race, first learn the boat to include reefing the jib and/or main.
However, experience has shown that heeling over 14 or even 15 degrees will not get the boat going faster. Why? Think about this. When you heel over a lot, you are adding more wetted surface to the hull creating more resistance in the water to begin with thus slowing the boat down. I have said you will sail faster flatter thru experience and a lot to do with sail control to include letting the sails out and/or reefing or a combination thereof. Also, those with you will appreciate you more for that comfortable and rewarding ride/experience.
Many years ago, I was demonstrating a new boat during the winter and the sailor from hell who knew everything brought his bride. On the demo ride, he demanded full sail in high wind and of course it was cold and slightly raining. It was obvious that he very little experience even though he called himself a professional racer. He put the rub rail and mainsail into the water scaring his wife who got wet and nearly feel off. My brother who races was scared to death as well and when his wife stated screaming and crying not to mention the yelling by him telling her to shut up, I removed his hand from the tiller, pointed the boat into the wind, told my brother to start the engine while I let the halyards go. He was miffed. He threatened not to buy the boat while I stood quiet.
Getting back to the dock, he said he did not get the full demo and would not buy a boat from me while still yelling at his newlywed. At that point, I told him that I would never sell him a boat as he was not a professional sailor and racer as he scared everyone with his unsafe practices and then pointe to his wife. I said if she wanted to file a divorce suit, I would be glad to be a witness as he did not care for the safety of his bride nor the rest of us. Further, I told him it was my boat and when I arrested the tiller control from him, Idid not want the boat to sink and drown all of us. Further, he needed to take his wife home and apologize if he wanted to save that marriage. Years later I did sell him a boat but first he apologized and thanked me for some of the best advice anyone ever gave him.
When you heel over so much, you do not have full control of the boat and the safety of everyone is in your hands.
crazy dave condon
