Sailing Downwind

[Ron Baer]

Thanks for your input on the previous question. I am getting a wisker pole.I will rephrase my question. Do you sail on a dead run, or almost ?In a 12-15 knot wind, going downwind, I let the boom out to the shourds. But then I noticed that the full battens were bent around the shrouds (S shaped), and sail also. This does not seem to be good for the sail or the battens. If I keep the boom in close enough to keep the sail from wrapping , then my best angle downwind is about 175-180 degrees. Beyond this , it would be easy to have an accidental jibe - I think.Any comments ?

 

[Ken Shubert]

Auto-Jibe

YUP, that's the excitement of sailing wing & wing too. If the sail is on the shrouds very long, the battens will saw right through too. I'm thinking that the best thing is a 150 Genoa maybe???Have a look at a Hunter Vision ---- no shrouds, no backstay -- no problem!KenS/V Wouff Hong

 

[pat]

gybe

instead of sailing straight down wind, try sailing off the wind on a broad reach, gybing as necessary to maintain course. the boat is faster, (so says my gps,) and you'll have less wear and tear on the main. no need to hassle with a whisker pole. try timing a downwind run vs. broad reach.pmb

 

[Stephen Ostrander]

running

Part of your problem is the swept-back spreaders on your rig, but also the full-batten main doesn't help in this case. They're great for reaching and going to windward but for downwind they just get in the way. I don't know if you can fly a cruising spinnaker on the 240 (no backstay?) but that might be an option.

 

[Dave B.]

down wind

Raceing or just for fun? Fun; Down wind, Wisker pole out, and boom vang -on-, and keep an eye on the water in back of you!! (your watching for the big gust!)Raceing ; Sail out to the spreaders with the boom vang (this will keep the battons from doing there "s" thing,) on hard. Wisker pole out, Jib halyard eased about 3'', Main out haul, out 3'', and centerboard up. This will get you going!!!But keep in mine to put all this stuff back in place going up wind AND, always look at the wind coming from behind you!!!Hope this helps..Dave B.

 

[Ken Shubert]

Keelboard UP

Get rid of the keelboard drag and gain another 1kt or at least a half kt. My wife was sure we'd fall over the first time I pulled the board up but we didn't. If you forget to put it back down you'r crosstrack error will be horrendous!This is the only edge we have on the keelboats of our size, except trailering of course.KenS/V Wouff Hong