Motorsailing
John, it sounds like you are having fun w/your 34! The fact that you are easing the load on your yanmar should cause no problems as far as I know. I might add though, that the two Seattle area Yanmar gurus that the Hunter Assn. of Puget sound (HAPS) had at their big rendezvous last July told us that you should run your engine at very near full throttle for 15 or 20 mins. after it is good and warmed up. Over time, this eliminates all carbon build up and promotes the general good health of your engine. Our 50 horse Yanmar is now running with no smoke whatsoever after just a couple of months of this new practice. Back to motor-sailing. If you can use both sails, you are undoubtedly in a fair amount of wind. Did you know that if there is little or no wind you can motor sail very effectively? All you do is hoist the main only, move the traveller car as far toward the wind as is reasonable, and sheet in until you have a good shape in the main as you motor. The faster you motor, the more the sail helps you! You should see a 1-2 kt. increase in your cruising speed. Your fuel usage will drop over a given distance as you will go further in the same time at the same rpms. And as an addede benifit, your boat will be much more stable in a seaway! I hope that these thoughts improve your sailing experience as they have mine. Ron Hughes s/v Best Revenge(40.5), Portland, OR
