zoidberg
Well-known member
It's all a balancing act, innit?
A feathering prop is a good idea, but possibly on the OP's boat, a fixed two blade prop locked in line with the keel is not so much drag?Agreed, on a fully crewed boat, but
Due to age and infirmity, Alzheimers and alcoholism, I seek to reduce the cockups on the foredeck as much as guile and wit permit, for I shall more often than not be disentangling said cockups on my jack-jones.
I'd still spend the budget on a feathering prop.
If I were rich enough to have both, it'd probably be another matter, but I'd probably still go for the asymmetric and accept that I can't go quite dead downwind, though I seem to remember the asymmetric on a Sun Fast 20 I did the RTI on would go pretty deep if we flew the tack high enough.
Indeed it is. As Blowing Old Boots asked, it depends what the intention is.It's all a balancing act, innit?
2 things. I don't think you would need a bobstay to that prodder unless you intend to fly a code zero type sail, but if you did a dolphin striker would be the solution.
Also, my interest has been piqued by the furling demountable storm jib, as it's something that has been crossing my mind ever since I read a review of the new Dehler 30OD...
What's your plan for this?
We just sailed from Carriacou, Grenada to Horta, 2650nm. A fair bit was down wind, particularly the first week. We are fortunate to have a good arsenal of downwind sail solutions. The set up is twin furlers configured as a solent rather than cutter rig with twin spinnaker poles mounted on tracks on the mast. We are also a ketch.One or two people aboard for a long offshore passage generally go for simple and robust and take the hit on the extra time to get there.
A spinnaker in light airs on a rolly ocean needs a lot of attention and often snags on all sorts of things as it collapses and fills again. After days of this, if its not damaged/ causing damage, most folk go back to basics. Even then, white sails slatting around for days can be very uncomfortable.
I've heard good things about them, too. Someone I used to know got one for a transat and swore by it.I have a Parasail on a Nich 26. I swithered about buying it as it was expensive but I wish I'd made the decision right away when I heard about them. It takes me about 10 minutes to rig, unless I make a mistake, using the AutoHelm to keep the boat pointing, thereafter it's a simple sail to control and I sail single-handed. The Sail actually reduces rolling and I usually don't bother with the main for downwind sailing these days. I"ll put it up for preference even for a short run from Cowes to Gosport. I used a jury rig, similar to a Twistle when I had a roller headsail with two tracks, and after that tried a number of lightweight poles on the genoa but the Parasail is king. Be careful of leaving it up too long, though, if the wind is increasing. I made a ten hour run from Cherbourg to Portsmouth simply because I was too Chicken to go forward and drop the sail when the wind picked up. We survived it, but I worried about the rig most of the way across. I finally went forward when we were in the lee of Bembridge.
I think snuffers (not too fond of 'em) and furlers have taken much of the hysteria out of flying coloured sail.I've heard good things about them, too. Someone I used to know got one for a transat and swore by it.
Be careful of leaving it up too long, though, if the wind is increasing. I made a ten hour run from Cherbourg to Portsmouth simply because I was too Chicken to go forward and drop the sail when the wind picked up
I heard a story of an offshore racing crew that left a big spinny up in a rising wind. They were flying along, but it got to the point where the skipper put someone forward with a rocket flare and orders to shoot the spinny if it gets out of control. I cant guarantee the truth of the story, but it was told as true. such stories are why as, if you'll pardon the Americanism, a Mom & Pop sailor, I don't do coloured sails.
I've heard good things about them, too. Someone I used to know got one for a transat and swore by it.
Be careful of leaving it up too long, though, if the wind is increasing. I made a ten hour run from Cherbourg to Portsmouth simply because I was too Chicken to go forward and drop the sail when the wind picked up
I heard a story of an offshore racing crew that left a big spinny up in a rising wind. They were flying along, but it got to the point where the skipper put someone forward with a rocket flare and orders to shoot the spinny if it gets out of control. I cant guarantee the truth of the story, but it was told as true. such stories are why as, if you'll pardon the Americanism, a Mom & Pop sailor, I don't do coloured sails.
How well do windvanes cope with lightish breeze downwind?Questions that I didn't see an answer to are:
Solo or Crewed Up?
For downwind hops on a day sail or for longer passages with a downwind leg of several hours?
Even if you are starting to get doddery (as I am) the answers to the above can make a difference to the advice.
I see you have fitted a windvane and thinking of furling storm jib and a new 'Solent'-type jib for brisker breeze.
This suggests to me that you are thinking of longer passages.
Armed with all the above, using twin headsails, preferably on whisker poles would be my advice and is what I use. Also I think your windvane would cope better with that arrangement rather than using the main which IMO brings the 'pivot point' further aft. I liken it to a supermarket trolly being pulled by a length of rope, pulled from the front, it follows you, pulled from the middle, it has a mind of its own!
If you are 'Crewed Up' then Cruising Chutes and Spinnakers ase back on the agenda.
More good questionsHow well do windvanes cope with lightish breeze downwind?
I know people who've done OK with the boat just sailing itself dead downwind under twin jibs, but does the OP want to dead downwind or wherever he wants in the 'downwind sector'?
How well do windvanes cope with lightish breeze downwind?
I know people who've done OK with the boat just sailing itself dead downwind under twin jibs, but does the OP want to dead downwind or wherever he wants in the 'downwind sector'?