Wind aft of the beam

[Rowana]

Rowana has fwd and aft lower stays on the mast. I don't have to let the main out very far until it is against the aft lowers. Consequently, when the wind comes aft of the beam, I can't let the main out far enough, and all I get is excessive heel.

The way I handle this at the moment is to simply drop the main altogether, and sail under jib alone.

Any thoughts folks?

 

[winsbury]

I find a similar restriction on our yacht too but I think its because Im used to dinghies where the lack of lowers means its possible to get the boom fully out or in the case of a laser even facing slightly forward when sailing by the lee.

 

[sailorman]

Rowana has fwd and aft lower stays on the mast. I don't have to let the main out very far until it is against the aft lowers. Consequently, when the wind comes aft of the beam, I can't let the main out far enough, and all I get is excessive heel.

The way I handle this at the moment is to simply drop the main altogether, and sail under jib alone.

Any thoughts folks?

reef the main or ease the vang to allow the leach to open & depower

 

[Joker]

I have the same problem with fractional rig/swept back spreaders.

I find tightening the kicker as much as possible flattens the sail and allows me to ease out the boom further.

Reefing is the other alternative.

 

[JimC]

...ease the vang to allow the leach to open & depower

... I find tightening the kicker as much as possible flattens the sail and allows me to ease out the boom further

Two directly opposed views. Personally I support the latter. My boat is has a fractional rig so, as well as tightening the kicker, I haul down on the backstay to further flatten the sail.

 

[winsbury]

Neither of those methods present maximum sail at optimum angle although perhaps they are addressing the issue of being overpowered rather than acheiving best vmg. Ive now taken to steering off to a training run rather than dead downwind though the quartering swell is less comfortable the sail isnt chafing on the wire so much either.

 

[William_H]

Perhaps the best answer is to add a chafing strip to the mainsail where it hits the stay and let it do so. Thats what I do. If the boat is overpowered ona reach as mine is often then a smaller jib might be a btter answer or put a reef in the main. good luck olewill

 

[bignick]

reef the main or ease the vang to allow the leach to open & depower

+1
That's what spreader patches are for on the main.

 

[lw395]

Put up a cruising chute and get the apparent wind forward.

 

[Clive]

There apears to be two issues here. 1) being able to square off the boom to sail off down wind and 2) depowering

1) I agree with patches and letting the sail run against the spreaders ect, but by letting off the kicker so thetop of the main set at right angles to the boat (don't let it go too far or you will end up rolling to windward).
2) Depowering on a run is interesting. Flattening the sail with back stay, out haul etc will have some impact, but the issue is the difference detween the boat speed and the wind, Allowing the boat to move thriugh the water faster, by keeping the hull clean, not using the rudder too much and trimming the hull fore and aft all helps, but if you are still struggling I think you need to reduce sail area, starting with the main.

Although it would need to be a good breeze, my X-yacht is happy to sail down wind with full rig in over 30knts. bigger the waves the easier it is as you gan get her surfing.