And, indeed, that's what I do ... though probably later than would a sane
person. However, widely varying wind strengths (as, for example, one
commonly encounters in lake sailing or on the Chespeake) can be best
_utilized_ (as opposed to tolerated) by increasing tolerance to gusts
without significantly increasing weight. This allows carrying a larger
sail to accomodate the lower end of the wind range. One can depower a
large sail, but there's no way to repower a small sail short of changing
up or shaking out a reef. I'm too lazy to keep this up unless absolutely
necessary.
What I've done is to usually sail heavy, with as much of the weight
carried low as possible. While this has other advantages -- notably in
momentum to defeat square waves -- it does negatively affect
acceleration, a disadvantage in light air.
While I most often have no choice but to sail heavy, the typical use of a
Potter most likely allows a much smaller load. Adding gust tolerance
(read "stiffness") by carrying a lesser weight at the end of a longer
moment arm -- e.g., by adding an endplate to the keel -- adds stiffness
with a smaller negative effect on acceleration.
Regards,
Bill Combs
WWP 19 #439 (August 1987)
"Ursa Minor"
Fort Walton Beach FL
ttursine@gnt.net