Using sails while under motor
- Thread starter JOHNEVERARD
- Start date
- Status
The term "motorsailing" implies you have your main sail up while motoring. And actually while motoring you get a little "lift" from the air passing over the main and gain a little speed.
Not only that, but it stops the boat from rocking side to side. Think about it.
No wind means no true wind. However, one must think about apparent wind when motoring.
No wind means no true wind. However, one must think about apparent wind when motoring.
Thanks for the input. I've seen other sailboats "motor sailing" and was wondering what might be the benefit. I noticed that their sails weren't flapping but full. I wondered if the sail being up might be adverse like a parachute....or like what you've explained. I've experienced a lot of no wind days this year on Lake Erie so anything helps
- Can help boats go to windward in steep chop that point poorly. However, if that is the case it often better to furl and go further up wind, and then bear off and sail.
- Can stabilize boat, IF there is some wind to put pressure on the sails. Otherwise they slat from side to side, which is loud and high-wear.
- Sometimes it is hope that the wind will return.
- Some times it is a short jog upwind in a river or narrow channel where tacking would be impractical and the river will soon turn.
No wind is no wind. The apparent wind will be exactly on the nose and be of no use at all. Full batten sails appear full all the time.
I agree w/ "Thinwater".
If the true wind is at or near 0kts, then the relative wind is dead on the bow and the sail(s) will luff and be of little or no use.
Also, if you are running dead down wind and the true wind speed is at or below the boats (motoring) speed, the relative wind will either be 0, or slightly on the bow... also meaning the sails will be of no use.
As far as the (main) sail "stabilizing" the boat in very light wind conditions, my experience has been that any "ground swell" that may rock the boat will simply cause the sail to slap and be more of a nuisance than anything else.
I motor under those conditions with the sails furled, if the wind comes up, it's easy enough to unfurl.
If the true wind is at or near 0kts, then the relative wind is dead on the bow and the sail(s) will luff and be of little or no use.
Also, if you are running dead down wind and the true wind speed is at or below the boats (motoring) speed, the relative wind will either be 0, or slightly on the bow... also meaning the sails will be of no use.
As far as the (main) sail "stabilizing" the boat in very light wind conditions, my experience has been that any "ground swell" that may rock the boat will simply cause the sail to slap and be more of a nuisance than anything else.
I motor under those conditions with the sails furled, if the wind comes up, it's easy enough to unfurl.
Sails add visability, for other boats, also power boats tend to give you right of way, because they can't tell that you are motoring.
I used be of the "You either motor or you sail" school but I concede that motorsailing can be useful at times. Delivery guys have shown me you keep the boat speed up by whatever means. Just be aware that if you're sail is flopping back and forth or luffing you are not doing the sailcloth any good. If it's not your sail …
I have no scientific data to back this up, only anecdotal, but on days I've been out and the waves were a couple feet or more and the wind died off... leaving the sails up while motoring in stabilized the boat significantly as we rolled over waves compared to when the sails are down. There is still drag on the sails when the boat rocks side to side, even if their is no wind. Open an umbrella and pull it up and down real fast.
If there is no wind it means that the apparent wind you create will be on the nose at whatever course you choose. The ocurrence of absolutely no wind is really an anomaly rarely encountered. When we say there is no wind we really mean , not enough to move the boat but we can usually find a course that will move the apparent wind off the nose and fill the sails. I'm all for energy conservation and economy of movement (laziness) so I usually keep the sails up and go looking for stronger wind.
- Status