Sailing The Vega Downwind

Oct 30, 2019
6
Let me start by thanking Ken Preston for his contribution 'Downwind via Navik 16/6/04'. Yes, as the apparent wind on the wind vane and the sea stat alter, it is fun experimenting with various sail configurations. Rather than reef the main too much, I think by broad reaching downwind limiting yaw to max 170 degrees off and deliberately jibing ever few hours, works well. The extra speed gained by reaching instead of running and the ability to carry the extra canvas safely combine to get you downwind faster, in spite of the extra distance covered.
When ever I am sailing off wind I find it hard to resist flying the spinnaker. Again setting the navik and rig for a broad reach, rather than for a dead run, the large mast head rig spinnaker, the Navik and the Vega's long keel work extremely well together. Due to the lightness of the spinnaker cloth, a certain minimum wind strength is necessary to keep the sail full, particularly when the sea state is difficult. Keeping the spinnaker full in those conditions would be a problem even with a person at the helm. and no matter what sails are up in those conditions progress would be slow.
I have worked out a system for setting and retrieving the spinnaker while single handed, from a position of safety standing on the edges of the fore cabin bunks avoiding the necessity of going out on the fore deck. If anyone is interested in the details of the system get in touch

Pat Breen

V 1395

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