Downwind sail on Windermere

[catlotion]

Hi,

We're thinking of investing in a downwind sail for our Beneteau Oceanis 350 we sail on Windermere.

Not really sure what to go for really - has anyone got any tips? Gennaker, cruising chute or asymmetrical spinnaker?

have no idea how much this sort of thing will cost - any ball park figures?

thanks

 

[Slinky Spring]

Speak to Steve Goacher. He is the local expert. May have something second hand thats suitable. From my experience on Coniston you are better off with a spinnaker as the wind is often up and down the lake but the lake is not wide enough to get the advantage from tacking down wind with a gennaker/cruising Shute

 

[Lakesailor]

Sometimes I've had a dead Northerly (or NNW) which would have made a downwind sail good. But in the great scheme of things I've found that the wind shifts have you running all over the shop and dead downdwind, with windshifts, is nerve-wracking.
You've only got 4 miles in the North Basin and 6 in the South basin so it's not as though you are going to be late for tea by "tacking" downwind.
It's mainly the racers that fly downwind sails, and they seem to have a fight on sometimes, even with 5 or 6 crew.

 

[aquaplane]

Lakey is talking sense, I have a shute and the wind is always wrong.

In the South with the wind sort of on the Port quarter going North, I can usually slope across to the West then jibe to wing a wing and keep swapping like that as I get close to the shore.

In the North the wind comes from all over as you probably know.

The crew groans when I say "I'm going to get the big sail out" but it's a bit of a laugh playing with it when there isn't too much wind. I soon run out of bravery though if it gets gusty.

When you are pricing up the sail don't forget the turning blocks and cleats and other deck gear and lines long enough to get everything to the cockpit, it's a pain having to go forard to tweak the halyard and tack.

 

[catlotion]

Thanks for the advice everyone - I thought that might be the case. Money may be better spent on a heater upgrade then...