Preventer
Not sure what the problem is here with preventers, but using one is sometimes definitely important. Last years Marion-Bermuda race had us going downwind in 35kts with occasional wavetops breaking. Quartering was not an option. We furled the mizzen, reefed the main and reduced the jib to avoid surfing problems, but in strong following seas and wind it gets intense at the helm. With a preventer, the Mason43 was very forgiving about yaw and roll, but then she is a heavy full-keel boat; the last thing we needed was accidental gybing. Our steering suffered from some bolts backing off, one boat retired with broken steering, and several took long detours to avoid the area altogether. Later on the skippers watch he sailed parallel to get back to the rhumbline but we got boarded a few times and did some uncomfortable heeling. They say any boat gets rolled when the wave is 40% of the boatlength. Recently read Motissiers book on his trip around the Horn. There is some food for thought on downwind work in life or death conditions. He and Coles might differ in details, but they are pretty close in survival tactics. I would not sail without one, whether its to keep the boom from bouncing and swinging in light air and waves, or to prevent injury and damage running under a double reef. A preventer is as simple as taking the vang off the mast and clipping it to the deck. Have also sailed 40+ years, but that doesn't seem very relevant to me in this matter.
Not sure what the problem is here with preventers, but using one is sometimes definitely important. Last years Marion-Bermuda race had us going downwind in 35kts with occasional wavetops breaking. Quartering was not an option. We furled the mizzen, reefed the main and reduced the jib to avoid surfing problems, but in strong following seas and wind it gets intense at the helm. With a preventer, the Mason43 was very forgiving about yaw and roll, but then she is a heavy full-keel boat; the last thing we needed was accidental gybing. Our steering suffered from some bolts backing off, one boat retired with broken steering, and several took long detours to avoid the area altogether. Later on the skippers watch he sailed parallel to get back to the rhumbline but we got boarded a few times and did some uncomfortable heeling. They say any boat gets rolled when the wave is 40% of the boatlength. Recently read Motissiers book on his trip around the Horn. There is some food for thought on downwind work in life or death conditions. He and Coles might differ in details, but they are pretty close in survival tactics. I would not sail without one, whether its to keep the boom from bouncing and swinging in light air and waves, or to prevent injury and damage running under a double reef. A preventer is as simple as taking the vang off the mast and clipping it to the deck. Have also sailed 40+ years, but that doesn't seem very relevant to me in this matter.
