I guess I had to review the term "by the lee" to understand this discussion fully. I have been setting the pole (I have one of those "goofy button-lock" whisker poles
) on a reach and then bearing off downwind until I gybe the main. At that point, though, I normally do back off to the point where I'm sailing "by the lee". I can't say that I have ever set my genoa to windward with the pole. That is probably why I was skeptical about the description from Yacht World which advises setting the pole and the genoa to the windward side. I can't imagine wrestling my 150 genoa to windward against the wind. The description in YW is oriented to a furled head sail though. They describe furling the sail then setting the pole to windward, clipping in the windward sheet, and then unfurling the genoa to the windward side. I don't see how this works for a hanked-on sail. Nevertheless, I am going to see if I can manage this alternate technique.
I reviewed this article, http://jworldannapolis.com/wing-and-wing-and-win/ which seems to indicate that W on W is actually advantageous when sailing "by the lee". However, that seems to be oriented toward small boats. I would qualify my boat as a small boat, and the conditions have never been extreme when I've sailed "by the lee". So, perhaps, that is the reason for my perception and I will go along with anybody who suggests that the most efficient techniques are bound to be altered based on boat size, sail area, wind strengths, and crew.
I will relate that during my last opportunity to set the 150 genoa with whisker pole, single-handed, in 20+ knot wind strength (flat water), I was sailing "by the lee" and had an accidental gybe. I experienced one of those "oh sh!t" moments as it started to happen, thinking that it would be disastrous for the rig. I think I was forward of the wheel, and my only reaction was to get my head out of the way. As it turned out, the boom came across with a very soft, gentle landing, to my great relief and surprise. I don't know how to account for it ... I thought maybe the boat's forward momentum had something to do with it as speed on the GPS was regularly over 7.5 knots. But most likely, it was just pure dumb luck, perhaps from a sudden lull or wind shift. So, with regard to sailing "by the lee" ... there certainly are risks involved.
I reviewed this article, http://jworldannapolis.com/wing-and-wing-and-win/ which seems to indicate that W on W is actually advantageous when sailing "by the lee". However, that seems to be oriented toward small boats. I would qualify my boat as a small boat, and the conditions have never been extreme when I've sailed "by the lee". So, perhaps, that is the reason for my perception and I will go along with anybody who suggests that the most efficient techniques are bound to be altered based on boat size, sail area, wind strengths, and crew.
I will relate that during my last opportunity to set the 150 genoa with whisker pole, single-handed, in 20+ knot wind strength (flat water), I was sailing "by the lee" and had an accidental gybe. I experienced one of those "oh sh!t" moments as it started to happen, thinking that it would be disastrous for the rig. I think I was forward of the wheel, and my only reaction was to get my head out of the way. As it turned out, the boom came across with a very soft, gentle landing, to my great relief and surprise. I don't know how to account for it ... I thought maybe the boat's forward momentum had something to do with it as speed on the GPS was regularly over 7.5 knots. But most likely, it was just pure dumb luck, perhaps from a sudden lull or wind shift. So, with regard to sailing "by the lee" ... there certainly are risks involved.