Minimum Wind Speed

[Bill Roosa]

think "relative motion between the wind and water"
it does not matter which is actually moving as long as at least one is
in the 0 wind speed and only current you are using the current to power the boat motion

 

[YVRguy]

I've been frustrated as a new sailor this year by the tenderness of my H34. But now that the dog days are here I'm loving it! My boat came with a 150 genoa (among others) and I am amazed how well we can sail in light winds. Even still, I've never really contemplated the minimum amount of wind I need because below 3 knots it's all academic for me.

Also, I think there is room in this discussion for the variability of the wind. Near Vancouver, when the wind dies to below 5kts it also becomes really flukey. So even you sail trim experts could set up for max efficiency only to lose it because the wind changes direction. Add to that the impact of the local topology (islands and mountains) and it can be an exercise in frustration. (Where else can you be ghosting along with almost no wind and then turn the corner into Howe Sound and be hit with 30kt outflow winds. Right Stretch?

 

[MLampner]

Don we recently took part in an overnioght race on the Chesapeake, from its northern end to just south of the Bay Bridge. Our boat is a 77 Hunter Cherebini design. To our surprise there was strong wind much of the night but it came out of the South and Southwest so much of the night was spent close hauled. About 3:30 Am the wind became more normal for this time of year, that is virtually non-existent but not completely we had between 2 and 3 knots as we approached the bridge. As it was a race the iron genny could not be brought to play so we tacked and maneuvered to get under the bridge while staying out of the big ships way. I should note the only time we got close to a big ship was of course at this end of the course where our maneuverabilty was greatly impacted by the lack of wind. Aayway to cut to the chase we did not go fast but even with the tacks we did go forward so if I had to say how much 2 to 3 is enough.