Seems like a simple question, but I want to take out my hunter 40 tomorrow and the weather is predicting 15-20 mph winds... which seem like too much because I heard that's when you start to want to reef. I looked at the weather from last week though and it was 10-15mph, we had fun under full sail and at no point did I feel the boat was overpowered. I'm new with a boat this size... so if there are any words of wisdom, I'd be thankful.
When is it too windy? - from a newbie
- Thread starter KandD
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Although I am normally adverse to reefing simply because I'm lazy, it is a tool one should consider a necessity as no matter what the forecast says, being caught out in bad weather is almost inevitable. There is probably no better time to learn than in 20 knots so I'd suggest you consider it an opportunity.
Given you can always drop the main if you have a problem, there is really no downside.
Given you can always drop the main if you have a problem, there is really no downside.
In a Hunter 40? Doesn't sound like too much air to me. If your nervous, (understandable) go out reefed down and shake them out if it feels right. You might get wet but it sounds like fun!! I'd love to be there with you.
You can always put the reef in if you're nervous. You may sail a little slower bit it will help build your confidence in how the boat handles under those conditions. As you get the feel, perhaps on another sail you can let the reef out as you get more comfortable on the boat.
If you're going upwind reef the genny a bit, if the wind is abaft the beam, shake it out. You'll know your overcanvassed when your butt clenches.
There is a misconception that bigger boats can handle
more full sails in higher winds than smaller boats. With smaller boats folks tend to reef ""earlier." Well, that concept is nonsense.
15-20 mph winds are fun to sail in if you set the boat up right. Reef the main BEFORE you go out. It's always easier to undo a reef than to do one when it's windy. You didn't say how big your headsail is, or whether it's a furler, but you can either partially furl the jib or use a smaller one.
We regularly sail in high winds here in San Francisco during the summer. We use a 85% jib fully extended on our roller furler and keep what I call our "Summer Reef" in the mainsail from April to September.
Reefing does NOT mean it's too windy to sail.
Reefing means you're a smart sailor.
We see all sorts of boats of different sizes out with altogether too much sail up - and it's NOT a comfortable ride. At the same time, I'm going faster, with less heel and more comfort, with our reefed mainsail and smaller headsail.
We had a C22, then a C25 and now a C34 and ALL required reefing when winds passed 15 knots steadily.
You can also lead your reefing lines and main halyard back to the cockpit so you can reef on the run. With a boat your size you should have those already, if you don't do so.
Go out in those winds and then you'll really appreciate your boat and learn more about sailing than if you're only a fairweather kinda sailor.
more full sails in higher winds than smaller boats. With smaller boats folks tend to reef ""earlier." Well, that concept is nonsense.
15-20 mph winds are fun to sail in if you set the boat up right. Reef the main BEFORE you go out. It's always easier to undo a reef than to do one when it's windy. You didn't say how big your headsail is, or whether it's a furler, but you can either partially furl the jib or use a smaller one.
We regularly sail in high winds here in San Francisco during the summer. We use a 85% jib fully extended on our roller furler and keep what I call our "Summer Reef" in the mainsail from April to September.
Reefing does NOT mean it's too windy to sail.
Reefing means you're a smart sailor.
We see all sorts of boats of different sizes out with altogether too much sail up - and it's NOT a comfortable ride. At the same time, I'm going faster, with less heel and more comfort, with our reefed mainsail and smaller headsail.
We had a C22, then a C25 and now a C34 and ALL required reefing when winds passed 15 knots steadily.
You can also lead your reefing lines and main halyard back to the cockpit so you can reef on the run. With a boat your size you should have those already, if you don't do so.
Go out in those winds and then you'll really appreciate your boat and learn more about sailing than if you're only a fairweather kinda sailor.
Reef First
I totally agree with those who advised to reef first. Especially for a newbie. Unless of course you have roller furling on the main. But, if you tie in a reef, before you leave the dock, it will make for a much easier learning curve. Then if you want more sail, shake it out. Reefing when it gets a little rough out can be exciting, and no place for a first timer.
I totally agree with those who advised to reef first. Especially for a newbie. Unless of course you have roller furling on the main. But, if you tie in a reef, before you leave the dock, it will make for a much easier learning curve. Then if you want more sail, shake it out. Reefing when it gets a little rough out can be exciting, and no place for a first timer.
Good Reefing
It sounds like a good time to learn to reef and see how your boat sails when reefed in higher wind,do you have a deep keel or shallow keel it will make a difference because us shallow draft boats tend to reef sooner and find out reefing and less heel the boat sails faster and way more comfortable.
Reefing depends on conditions and my crew when sailing with the guys they want more excitement and when my wife and woman or newbies are with me I give them a nice smoother comfortable ride give or take on what they think is comfortable.
My wife needs to be in the right mood for more excitement,the photo is when she was feeling great.
It all depends what you like but you should learn to reef when the wind is too much.
Today is very windy here in west coast Florida gusting 20 to 30 so it's a good day to do some work at home.
Nick
It sounds like a good time to learn to reef and see how your boat sails when reefed in higher wind,do you have a deep keel or shallow keel it will make a difference because us shallow draft boats tend to reef sooner and find out reefing and less heel the boat sails faster and way more comfortable.
Reefing depends on conditions and my crew when sailing with the guys they want more excitement and when my wife and woman or newbies are with me I give them a nice smoother comfortable ride give or take on what they think is comfortable.
My wife needs to be in the right mood for more excitement,the photo is when she was feeling great.
It all depends what you like but you should learn to reef when the wind is too much.
Today is very windy here in west coast Florida gusting 20 to 30 so it's a good day to do some work at home.
Nick
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Generally, larger boats can handle more wind than smaller boats. This is often due to having better systems for dealing with more wind. A lot of smaller boats don't have reefing points or roller furling jibs. Another reason is because bigger boats are just bigger. They often require more wind to get moving, and deal with the seas generated by higher winds better than the smaller boats do just due to their larger size.
I have a 28' boat and we're out in 20 knots of wind all the time... with close to full sail up. But we worked our way up to doing that. I'd recommend you head out and try those conditions with a partially rolled up genoa and a reefed main.
The only way you're going to get comfortable with your new boat is going out in all conditions and learning what the different conditions require you to do. So head out and have fun...
I have a 28' boat and we're out in 20 knots of wind all the time... with close to full sail up. But we worked our way up to doing that. I'd recommend you head out and try those conditions with a partially rolled up genoa and a reefed main.
The only way you're going to get comfortable with your new boat is going out in all conditions and learning what the different conditions require you to do. So head out and have fun...
I can't say this too strongly so I'll just say it plain:
No one should be out in a sailboat unless they are as comfortable and proficient with reefing as with raising the sails.
If you are agonizing about winds of this velocity, you should be out there reefing and unreefing until you've got it nailed.
No one should be out in a sailboat unless they are as comfortable and proficient with reefing as with raising the sails.
If you are agonizing about winds of this velocity, you should be out there reefing and unreefing until you've got it nailed.
Thanks for the advise, a little more about my boat: It's a deep-draft fin-keel 6'6"; I don't have roller furling on the main or foresail, which is a 130%.
I'll try to get out... we've added some to-do stuff for the weekend so it's starting to sound like we might not have time... but I'll let ya'll know how it goes.
I'll try to get out... we've added some to-do stuff for the weekend so it's starting to sound like we might not have time... but I'll let ya'll know how it goes.
Stu Jackson and others have said a bunch of wise words. On San Francisco Bay in the summer I put a reef in the main automatically before departure. If I have to deal with the main I usually sneak in behind Angel Island or Treasure Island and do it in the wind/wave shadow. Absence of wave motion makes a big difference.
When you are doing that the skill of the helmsperson is essential to your well being, as they determine what the boom is going to do. Always be on the windward side of the boom and don't allow any lines to tangle around your ankles or any other part of you, or go overboard into your propeller.
Doing it right can make the difference between a fun safe time and something really bad.
John Brecher
When you are doing that the skill of the helmsperson is essential to your well being, as they determine what the boom is going to do. Always be on the windward side of the boom and don't allow any lines to tangle around your ankles or any other part of you, or go overboard into your propeller.
Doing it right can make the difference between a fun safe time and something really bad.
John Brecher
You've got to be kidding me!!
15 to 20 knot winds during the prime sailing season in Texas and you've got some things on your 'to do list' that will keep you ashore??!!!
I don't follow that line of reasoning at all. Knowing when and how to reef is one of the more important things you should learn and I can't believe that you are thinking about wasting this opportunity. Like others have said ... reef when you leave the dock. When you are in the open, head up-wind to measure your performance. Play around with dropping your traveler and adjusting to find the most comfortable combination of heel and speed. Make several tacks and go a good distance upwind, then turn around and head off wind on some reaches (not dead down wind). Shake out the reef while you are at it. Then after you have had this fun, furl in your headsail, heave to, and put your reef back in. Head back upwind for several tacks.
Turn around, shake out your reef and head back home. Remember, if you have a true wind of 20 k, your apparent wind will be stronger and may measure 25 k or better when you are tacking upwind. You will want to be reefing on this point of sail for sure.
When you turn around and head off the wind, your apparent wind will drop off to 15 k or less. You will handle this easily without the reef. In the gusts, if there is a tendancy to want to broach, then you may want to shorten sail so you could bear off on your reach with that in mind and wait for a while to see if keeping your reef in is what you want to do. Also, if you are tending toward a broach while reaching, you will want to bear off the wind in the gusts(closer to dead down wind), but you must be careful not to go far enough to cause an accidental jibe.
These conditions seem ideal for learning these techniques ... you really should expand your comfort envelop.
15 to 20 knot winds during the prime sailing season in Texas and you've got some things on your 'to do list' that will keep you ashore??!!!
I don't follow that line of reasoning at all. Knowing when and how to reef is one of the more important things you should learn and I can't believe that you are thinking about wasting this opportunity. Like others have said ... reef when you leave the dock. When you are in the open, head up-wind to measure your performance. Play around with dropping your traveler and adjusting to find the most comfortable combination of heel and speed. Make several tacks and go a good distance upwind, then turn around and head off wind on some reaches (not dead down wind). Shake out the reef while you are at it. Then after you have had this fun, furl in your headsail, heave to, and put your reef back in. Head back upwind for several tacks.
Turn around, shake out your reef and head back home. Remember, if you have a true wind of 20 k, your apparent wind will be stronger and may measure 25 k or better when you are tacking upwind. You will want to be reefing on this point of sail for sure.
When you turn around and head off the wind, your apparent wind will drop off to 15 k or less. You will handle this easily without the reef. In the gusts, if there is a tendancy to want to broach, then you may want to shorten sail so you could bear off on your reach with that in mind and wait for a while to see if keeping your reef in is what you want to do. Also, if you are tending toward a broach while reaching, you will want to bear off the wind in the gusts(closer to dead down wind), but you must be careful not to go far enough to cause an accidental jibe.
These conditions seem ideal for learning these techniques ... you really should expand your comfort envelop.
15-20mph
I pray for that kind of wind every night before I go to bed during season.
I rarely reef but then I like to heel. I use 130% jib and full main in that kind of wind and I sail a little 26' MacGregor, it is not as bad as you think. I don't reef the main until I am sure the wind will exceed 20mph. My boat is tender and heels quickly until about 15 -20 degrees then she hardens up, it is a blast out there in 15-20mph winds, go for it!:dance:
Make the time!
I pray for that kind of wind every night before I go to bed during season.
I rarely reef but then I like to heel. I use 130% jib and full main in that kind of wind and I sail a little 26' MacGregor, it is not as bad as you think. I don't reef the main until I am sure the wind will exceed 20mph. My boat is tender and heels quickly until about 15 -20 degrees then she hardens up, it is a blast out there in 15-20mph winds, go for it!:dance:
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Zzzoom is a 1970 C&C 35 that got a full race boat makeover by Britton Chance
7' keel , tall mast and rudder The original owner had a lot of money to spend
It has no issues carrying a heavy 1 (150 %)and full main in 20 knots BUT it has a lot of Jib tracks with adjustable cars that allow the 150 to be setup for the wind conditions
If you left the cars in the 10 knot position instead of moving them back to flatten the sail you would have problems driving the boat
And that is why you have to get out and try things within your comfort level to learn what makes the boat tick BECAUSE at some point your going to run into bad weather and that is about the worst time to try and figure out what works
I would encourage you to at least go out for a few hours. Reef the main and keep the head sail small, either furled in or put up a smaller sail. At least it will build up your confidence in handling a lrger boat in higher winds. Soon enough, 20 knots will be normal for you. I can understand your feeling nervous, this is our "first" bigger boat. It took me a few times in windier conditions to get the feel on how it responds. Now, "small craft wind warnings" are PLAY TIME....
Don't worry, the boat will not go down, if you have too much sail up, it may heel excessively but will round up into the wind . At that point then, take in lots of sail and let it out as you feel comfortable.
Go out, have fun and let us know how you did.... :dance:
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