How can I depower in high winds? My H27 gets overpowered in 20+ Kts such that I can not use the full main without rounding up. I have the halyard and outhaul bone tight, the mast bent to the max, I have even tried putting on some topping lift to try to get the top of the leach to spill wind. If I put in a reef, we can't even keep up with a Cat. 22. My up wind performace sucks in 20+ kts as a result. What else can I do?
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Darrel Richards
Overpowered
When you are overpowered you only have one choice, that is you must reduce sail. A reefed main and/ or smaller head sail will allow the boat to move more efficently. Using the back stay adjuster to depower will do just that, depower. It does not improve the efficency of the sails and leave a decent shape. What does the Catalina 22 do to his sails in those conditions that you can't?
When you are overpowered you only have one choice, that is you must reduce sail. A reefed main and/ or smaller head sail will allow the boat to move more efficently. Using the back stay adjuster to depower will do just that, depower. It does not improve the efficency of the sails and leave a decent shape. What does the Catalina 22 do to his sails in those conditions that you can't?
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Bill O'Donovan
Reef should work
The first of two reefs should be all you need and shouldn't slow you down at all. Be sure you're tying down properly by starting with the ring at the gooseneck, then the reefing line, then the three ties (do not use just the three ties or the sail will rip quickly).
The first of two reefs should be all you need and shouldn't slow you down at all. Be sure you're tying down properly by starting with the ring at the gooseneck, then the reefing line, then the three ties (do not use just the three ties or the sail will rip quickly).
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Randy Sherman
Overpowered
I have a 1979/27'Hunter. Like Darrel said you must reduce sail area. With one reef in the main and a smaller headsail you will find that the boat will sail a lot better & you may not even lose that much speed unless you are fighting waves. The 27' is notorious for weatherhelm. I Reef early if winds increase to 15 knots.
I have a 1979/27'Hunter. Like Darrel said you must reduce sail area. With one reef in the main and a smaller headsail you will find that the boat will sail a lot better & you may not even lose that much speed unless you are fighting waves. The 27' is notorious for weatherhelm. I Reef early if winds increase to 15 knots.
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Don Alexander
Play the Main
Shep, If it is only in the gusts that the problems arises then let the main down the traveller so that only the 3' nearest the leach is working and play the traveller line just as you would the mainsheet. Surprisingly it will still give plenty of drive if you keep it just off flogging. If you can have a spare hand for the vang release this in the gusts too. Its hard work but is probably what the opposition are doing anyway. Also make sure all your heavyweight crew are on the rail and thinking heavy. When the gust passes raise the main up the traveller to a more normal position. If this doesn't work then you really are overpowered so reef and sail a little more free to ride the waves better. You can power through other's lees like this! Good racing.
Shep, If it is only in the gusts that the problems arises then let the main down the traveller so that only the 3' nearest the leach is working and play the traveller line just as you would the mainsheet. Surprisingly it will still give plenty of drive if you keep it just off flogging. If you can have a spare hand for the vang release this in the gusts too. Its hard work but is probably what the opposition are doing anyway. Also make sure all your heavyweight crew are on the rail and thinking heavy. When the gust passes raise the main up the traveller to a more normal position. If this doesn't work then you really are overpowered so reef and sail a little more free to ride the waves better. You can power through other's lees like this! Good racing.
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Bill
REEF!!!!!
There are very few boats that can sail with a full main with winds over 20 knots and I doubt Hunter makes any of them. You are probably going side ways even with your reef. As mentioned play your main and keep your boat as flat as possible. Grap a big guy and put him on the rail on the heavy air days. On the 28.5 anything over 15 we have a 110 up and think about reefing depending on the crew size. Try sailing as flat as possible. You don't feel as fast but you will sail a much straighter line.
There are very few boats that can sail with a full main with winds over 20 knots and I doubt Hunter makes any of them. You are probably going side ways even with your reef. As mentioned play your main and keep your boat as flat as possible. Grap a big guy and put him on the rail on the heavy air days. On the 28.5 anything over 15 we have a 110 up and think about reefing depending on the crew size. Try sailing as flat as possible. You don't feel as fast but you will sail a much straighter line.
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Martin
Pointing and a Reef
I have raced my H27 1984 boat for a couple of years (PHRF 219). I have tried a variety of sail configs and in heavy air the first thing I do is to shift my 150 headsail to a 110. Only after that do I put one reef in the main, and then the second as necessary. My boat cannot take too much heeling as the rudder comes out of the water and I loose stearage. Furthermore, my boat cannot sail with a main alone. I have to have a headsail, however small. Good luck.
I have raced my H27 1984 boat for a couple of years (PHRF 219). I have tried a variety of sail configs and in heavy air the first thing I do is to shift my 150 headsail to a 110. Only after that do I put one reef in the main, and then the second as necessary. My boat cannot take too much heeling as the rudder comes out of the water and I loose stearage. Furthermore, my boat cannot sail with a main alone. I have to have a headsail, however small. Good luck.
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