>> In the light winds (5-8 knots) we've had here the last couple of
>> weekends, I am able to get a respectable speed up when on a beam reach
>> or even sailing to windward, but I seem to come to a dead halt when
>> trying a run or broad reach. I would appreciate any pointers you experts
>> have out there. I think I am getting my sails at approximately the
>> right angle, but there must something screwy, because I see other boats
>> flying by me. This may be a ridiculous request of you all without
>> experiencing the conditions, or seeing my technique, but I thought I
>> would give it a shot. I am trying to ramp up the learning curve as fast
>> as possible. For reference, I have been sailing with main and Genoa on
>> rolling furler.
>
Eric wrote:
> It seems slow off the wind since
>apparent wind drops to zero... but oftentimes I'm blown away by how fast I'm
>actually travelling. In a light breeze you can be doing several knots and
>hardly notice it.
As Eric said. it just seems slow when you are going downwind because of the
drop in relative wind. It's easy to be lulled into a false sense of
security; then you come about and ...Whoa Nelly! Where did all that wind
come from?
Hopefully the boats that are passing you have more sail area, a longer
waterline, and/or a planing hull.
If you are running dead downwind, put a whisker pole on the genoa and sail
wing and wing, main on one side and jib on the other. Otherwise your jib
will be hard to keep filled and will be partially masked by the main.
Harry Gordon
P14 #234, Manatee
Mountain View, CA