Sailing dead down wind intuitively seems like it ought to be the easiest point of sail. In reality its probably the hardest. Running slows the apparent wind. Little or no heel takes some of the spice from sailing. And sail setting is problematic too. Frequently the main blankets a foresail causing it to collapse. Wing and wing is always a tender option with a narrow angle of effectiveness. And spinnakers are an adventure unto themselves. Sometimes jibing off broad reaches seems the best way to get to your downwind destination. What downwind strategy works best on your boat? Share your views and be sure to vote in the Quick Quiz at the bottom of the home page. (Quiz by Gary Wyngarden)
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Sailing downwind
I agree with Mark. Have tried wing and wing but find it difficult to keep the jib full without an accidental main jibe in often fickle light air. I am much more comfortable with a broad reach and deliberately jibing to maintain the rhumb line. Steve Kamp, H260
I agree with Mark. Have tried wing and wing but find it difficult to keep the jib full without an accidental main jibe in often fickle light air. I am much more comfortable with a broad reach and deliberately jibing to maintain the rhumb line. Steve Kamp, H260
Drifter
We have a C320 and use a light air drifter (which is a 185% genoa) good to 18 knot winds downwind. Best results are at 165 degrees, with the drifter poled out to windward, opposite the main. Clarke Bassett sells it at Kappa Sails in Westbrook.
We have a C320 and use a light air drifter (which is a 185% genoa) good to 18 knot winds downwind. Best results are at 165 degrees, with the drifter poled out to windward, opposite the main. Clarke Bassett sells it at Kappa Sails in Westbrook.
Haven't used my spinnaker yet
I hve sailed a hell of a lot and can count the times I sailed down wind, wing on wing, on one hand. Its just not available that often to me. Excluding for short distances. I never do it in heavy winds. Reach and jibe would be an easier sail. I still like to wing it when I can for what reason I can't say. Maybe for the adventure and that "wind at your back thing". Regards Bud
I hve sailed a hell of a lot and can count the times I sailed down wind, wing on wing, on one hand. Its just not available that often to me. Excluding for short distances. I never do it in heavy winds. Reach and jibe would be an easier sail. I still like to wing it when I can for what reason I can't say. Maybe for the adventure and that "wind at your back thing". Regards Bud
Effective downwind strategy
Best downwind strategy to date is two-fold: 1)Start the outboard 2)Open beer This is effective in light air only.
Best downwind strategy to date is two-fold: 1)Start the outboard 2)Open beer This is effective in light air only.
need crew ...
When day-sailing, we do a little bit of down-wind sailing just for the fun of it. My O'day 30 handles well wing-and-wing. If I was trying to get somewhere, I'd probably bear off, run on a broad reach and gybe when necessary. Like a LOT of others - I don't have the crew to "risk" flying a spinnaker, although I promise myself "I'll do it this year." Bill on STARGAZER
When day-sailing, we do a little bit of down-wind sailing just for the fun of it. My O'day 30 handles well wing-and-wing. If I was trying to get somewhere, I'd probably bear off, run on a broad reach and gybe when necessary. Like a LOT of others - I don't have the crew to "risk" flying a spinnaker, although I promise myself "I'll do it this year." Bill on STARGAZER
sailing downwind does not support the theory that the shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line...try sailing at 30% reach. This allows for full sails, greater speed, healing etc, etc etc.
The correct answer s/b "it depends"
Depends on what??? *box Obviously the sail plan for one's boat is the first thing. If your power is in the headsail the downwind rules are different than when your power is in the main. I have Vision 32 with a 129% jib and 5/8 fractional rig. While my headsail is very small, my main is quite big and I've added a large roach. Naturally DDW is less a problem for me than for somebody with a main that is half the size, but also with a 155% jib that is not fractional and therefore perhaps twice the mainsail area. For me, when the wind is above 12 knots then the penalty for sailing DDW is just about null. I can go wing-on-wing, bag my main so it works to its potential and more than make up for the extra distance were I were sailing 150 say, instead of 180. However, it the winds are relatively light and/or variable then it's probably spinnaker time for me and I'll sail 130-150. Whether your boat is designed and rigged for asysmetrical rather than symetrical spinnaker is also an important consideration when deciding upon point of sail. As you probably know, it is impossible to sail an AYSO DDW. I do have two AYSO's cut to go deep so 150 degrees is A-OK. I can do even do 160-170 but it's hard and not worth the trouble unless the seas are flat and the wind is consistent. With a symetrical spinnaker one can go DDW and still go fast. Of course symetricals don't perform well above 100 whilst AYSO's can do 60-70, depending on cut, so it pretty much all balances out. Speaking of seas, whether DDW is a good idea depends also on local sailing conditions. I sail in the Pacific Ocean and we have waves, tides and current and all are important of course. But we also have swells coming all the way from Japan, and they are most always a significant consideration in deciding how we get from A to B. Frankly, the direction, size and speed of the swell are ususally about as important as where the wind is coming from when sailing downwind - If I can surf a 10 foot swell I will and whether or not I'm going DDW is far less important. Rodger
Depends on what??? *box Obviously the sail plan for one's boat is the first thing. If your power is in the headsail the downwind rules are different than when your power is in the main. I have Vision 32 with a 129% jib and 5/8 fractional rig. While my headsail is very small, my main is quite big and I've added a large roach. Naturally DDW is less a problem for me than for somebody with a main that is half the size, but also with a 155% jib that is not fractional and therefore perhaps twice the mainsail area. For me, when the wind is above 12 knots then the penalty for sailing DDW is just about null. I can go wing-on-wing, bag my main so it works to its potential and more than make up for the extra distance were I were sailing 150 say, instead of 180. However, it the winds are relatively light and/or variable then it's probably spinnaker time for me and I'll sail 130-150. Whether your boat is designed and rigged for asysmetrical rather than symetrical spinnaker is also an important consideration when deciding upon point of sail. As you probably know, it is impossible to sail an AYSO DDW. I do have two AYSO's cut to go deep so 150 degrees is A-OK. I can do even do 160-170 but it's hard and not worth the trouble unless the seas are flat and the wind is consistent. With a symetrical spinnaker one can go DDW and still go fast. Of course symetricals don't perform well above 100 whilst AYSO's can do 60-70, depending on cut, so it pretty much all balances out. Speaking of seas, whether DDW is a good idea depends also on local sailing conditions. I sail in the Pacific Ocean and we have waves, tides and current and all are important of course. But we also have swells coming all the way from Japan, and they are most always a significant consideration in deciding how we get from A to B. Frankly, the direction, size and speed of the swell are ususally about as important as where the wind is coming from when sailing downwind - If I can surf a 10 foot swell I will and whether or not I'm going DDW is far less important. Rodger
Depending on wind strength & run length
For light winds, or if the run is short, I use wing and wing and wing (32' ketch mizzen), even a 4th wing if the mizzen staysail carries. For strong winds and relatively long runs, I use twin jibs: genoa on furler, yankee hooked on the spare (flying) forestay. As wind goes fresh toward gale, I roll the genoa until the yankee has a hard time, when it is replaced by the 10 oz storm jib. I end up on bare poles...
For light winds, or if the run is short, I use wing and wing and wing (32' ketch mizzen), even a 4th wing if the mizzen staysail carries. For strong winds and relatively long runs, I use twin jibs: genoa on furler, yankee hooked on the spare (flying) forestay. As wind goes fresh toward gale, I roll the genoa until the yankee has a hard time, when it is replaced by the 10 oz storm jib. I end up on bare poles...
Downhill sailing
I have to admit that I scare most people downwind. I tend to go wing on wing with two genoas both poled out as well as my normal main and a 3/4 sized secondary main also poled out. Beleive it or not I can really scoot along, beating many a larger boat. It is tricky sailing but a lot of fun as I can spend hours on a single run either in Buzzards Bat, cape Cod Bay or the Gulf of Maine. I'm also someone who runs a jib, inside jib and main almost whenever I sail, and again, I tend to add more sail whenever I can, with sails even added to my backstay if the wind is right. All this on my old Columbia Contender, "Gandalf", hull number 301. And by the way, for those of us who love to surprise people in larger sailboats, more sail usually does it. Be careful and Happy sailing! David Faulkner
I have to admit that I scare most people downwind. I tend to go wing on wing with two genoas both poled out as well as my normal main and a 3/4 sized secondary main also poled out. Beleive it or not I can really scoot along, beating many a larger boat. It is tricky sailing but a lot of fun as I can spend hours on a single run either in Buzzards Bat, cape Cod Bay or the Gulf of Maine. I'm also someone who runs a jib, inside jib and main almost whenever I sail, and again, I tend to add more sail whenever I can, with sails even added to my backstay if the wind is right. All this on my old Columbia Contender, "Gandalf", hull number 301. And by the way, for those of us who love to surprise people in larger sailboats, more sail usually does it. Be careful and Happy sailing! David Faulkner
asymetrical spinnaker
Sailed with a friend who had an asymetrical spinnaker. Flawless downwind and easy to manage.
Sailed with a friend who had an asymetrical spinnaker. Flawless downwind and easy to manage.
Wing and wing
Since I don't have a chute, and don't plan to get on given all the problems I have read about with them, I prefer to sail down wind wing and wing, with my 150 and main. I try to rig a preventer, but on the river and having to tack often, I sometimes run without it.
Since I don't have a chute, and don't plan to get on given all the problems I have read about with them, I prefer to sail down wind wing and wing, with my 150 and main. I try to rig a preventer, but on the river and having to tack often, I sometimes run without it.
Which ever works!
If it's a steady strong wind, I love to wing and wing it... but if the winds are variable in direction or strength, it's not worth the effort. Not having a spinnaker, I broad reach and jybe. '79 ODay 28 ~ Rich In Spirit ~
If it's a steady strong wind, I love to wing and wing it... but if the winds are variable in direction or strength, it's not worth the effort. Not having a spinnaker, I broad reach and jybe. '79 ODay 28 ~ Rich In Spirit ~
Downwind Geneker
There is nothing as much fun as cruising downwind under the geneker. Works great wing on wing. The only concern is a wind shift causing a jibe, but just requires that little bit of attention
There is nothing as much fun as cruising downwind under the geneker. Works great wing on wing. The only concern is a wind shift causing a jibe, but just requires that little bit of attention
Keep it simple
I try to tack upwind all day to enjoy coming back on a broad to beam reach with spinnaker. To facilite matters, let me suggest: 1. Set a permanent tack line up the side. 2. Set matching spin sheets each side. 3. Keep spin sheets run through blocks. This makes running an asymetrical much quicker. Also developed an 8-foot bowsprit avaialble to anyone on this site, for free. It throws the spin 4-5 feet ahead of the main, avoiding blanketing. For details and pix, email me at bodonovan@vagazette.com
I try to tack upwind all day to enjoy coming back on a broad to beam reach with spinnaker. To facilite matters, let me suggest: 1. Set a permanent tack line up the side. 2. Set matching spin sheets each side. 3. Keep spin sheets run through blocks. This makes running an asymetrical much quicker. Also developed an 8-foot bowsprit avaialble to anyone on this site, for free. It throws the spin 4-5 feet ahead of the main, avoiding blanketing. For details and pix, email me at bodonovan@vagazette.com
Boom Brake
Have found a boom brake essential for safe and easy down wind sailing in the afternoon onshore (SW) breezes on the Maine coast.. e PS.. broke a boom once in the Molokai Channel, not something I'd want to repeat...
Have found a boom brake essential for safe and easy down wind sailing in the afternoon onshore (SW) breezes on the Maine coast.. e PS.. broke a boom once in the Molokai Channel, not something I'd want to repeat...
wing and wing at night
Just a note about an overnight run from Port St. Joe to Orange Beach Al. A very interesting night trying to stay in the groove running down wind in the dark. Went pretty well and the rain held off till the watch changed and I got to go below. Oh yes a preventer goes without saying!!
Just a note about an overnight run from Port St. Joe to Orange Beach Al. A very interesting night trying to stay in the groove running down wind in the dark. Went pretty well and the rain held off till the watch changed and I got to go below. Oh yes a preventer goes without saying!!
slightly off downwind
i raely get to sail down wind as i will steer off a little to basically run but like wing and wing but it is tooo much work withoput a perfectly steady wind and taht raely happens
i raely get to sail down wind as i will steer off a little to basically run but like wing and wing but it is tooo much work withoput a perfectly steady wind and taht raely happens
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