Thoughts on gusts?

[smeaks]

I think you have to set for the current conditions and guage the gust as you encounter them. If they are overpowering you or coming far to frequently the reef then ... or shake out as appropriate... if you try and accomodate every whim that is possible in a forecast none of us may ever get out! And at the end of the day we can only grow in confidence and skill if we are a little tested beyond our comfort zones from time to time.

 

[Channel Sailor]

"So what do you do on a Cat down here?

Yes, for me that was problem in my cat's. On a couple of occassions I have set up two (or even three) reefs in a drafty marina with a stiff wind forecast, only to shake them out one at a time every 200m from the harbour entrance. Depends on the design of cat I suppose. But once you are out on open water in the unbostructed wind, then normally I could judge the sail plan required and quickly adjust to be in a comfort zone to suit the boat and condition. With one of my Cat's, being conservative was definitely necessary. If the wind really does take you by surprise, of course there are other multihull practices to use in in sudden strong gusty winds (strong for the design of boat):- a hand ready on the mainsheet with a loop ready to flick out of a quality jammer, mainsheet coil always laid down ready to run free, and jib sheets in jammers that just need one flick of the wrist to release. I personally did not find the practice of turning downwind in gusts to be the right answer for me, but it might have its uses for some crews in certain situations.

If anyone was out (as I was) around and in the Solent last Sunday morning in a small monohull yacht, they may have noticed the forecast and actual weather was an interesting contrast. Gales were reported present in the shipping forecast for Wight at that time, strong wind warnings were in the Inshore forecast. The was wind blowing fairly blustery in the marina when slipping the mooring. Outside the marina I set out with two reefs in the main and staysail only expecting F4-5 and 28kt gusts down the reaches of the harbour. However, the strong wind was not there. By the time I was 3 miles off, the jib and staysail were up together. But the mainsail reefs stayed in for an hour or two because of the gusts forecast and the Gale reported offshore. All around me were yachts with two reefs in the main, so everyone else had the same idea to be conservative. By 12 midday there was no sign of gusty weather, reefs were shaken out and we continued with every enjoable sail.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I reef to the gusts, so end up under canvassed most of the time, but with such a low freeboard as I have, its bad enough getting soaked with the spray, but getting covered in bruises from being thrown arround the cockpit is never fun. Im setting off on Saturday for my longest single handed trip yet (Trebeurden via Lymington, Portland Exmouth and Salcombe, oh, and back again) so heres hoping the wind calms down.

Hi Chrissie..... how did it go?