Wind

Opsguy1979

Opsguy1979

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Hi all,

I was looking to go out this weekend but have a look at XC weather and it seems once again a bit sporting! Or am I just been a bit to careful? The average wind seems ok but the gusts are getting up. Ive been looking at the average wind on previous trips but have found the gusts seem to be more where the wind is at and if anyone has seen me you will have noticed me reefed and a bit out of comfort zone. But I need to learn and it seems there is either no wind or its gusty. So what should I be looking at with low experience to be going out in? Should I be cancelling trips if the gust are high but the average wind is low?

I guess that also leaves the question if the average wind is ok but there are gusts should I be reefing and going very slow out of the gusts or is there another way? When ive been out recentley in reasonable wind it seems it is only me that is reefed.

It be great to know your thoughts? I should add the yacht is 27 ft.

Cheers Karl (A very frustrated skipper )
 
Opsguy1979 said:
I guess that also leaves the question if the average wind is ok but there are gusts should I be reefing and going very slow out of the gusts or is there another way? When ive been out recentley in reasonable wind it seems it is only me that is reefed.
Click to expand...

The few times we've been out this Summer I have found Wind Guru to be pretty much spot on. (www.windguru.cz)
Though must add that once we passed Landguard the 'gusts' turned out to be the 'average wind speed' - so I tend to reef early.
In fact, that first reef in the main turned out to be a standard feature this Summer.
 
Hi

For what it is worth, I always set the sails to match the probable maximum hit in gusts.
Last Sunday I initially felt a bit underpowered with 2 reefs in the main and genoa as we came out of Brightlingsea.
However by the time we had got half way back to Tollesbury I was quite glad we were reefed down.
The boat was going like a train, sitting reasonably upright, nothing straining and making excellent progress.
I reckon that feeling comfortable and not stressing the boat too much is better than going along thinking "I wish I had another reef in", but that is just me.
Do what you feel comfortable with. Its easier shaking out reefs than putting them in.

Regards

Ian
 
Well as much as I agree about reefing early etc for a more comfortable (and often faster) journey, I do think getting to know what the boat does when it gets gusty and you haven't prepared upfront, is a good thing.
I'm not suggesting going out in a F10 just for practice but I've found it valuable to sail in familiar waters, over canvassed for strong conditions and seeing how the boat responds and what can be done to counteract the gusts (de-powering the main etc). Knowing the boat is a lot 'happier' than I think, puts me at ease for when the unexpected may happen when going further afield.
 
Hi Karl

If you never get out of your comfort zone then the zone will stay the same. As well as being reefer get used to dumping the main in the gusts - letting off the main sheet. I'm not sure if you have a proper mainsail track but if so then let it right down to leeward. These things will take the power out of the main. Pull the sheet back in the lulls so you don't lose drive. Boats sail best upright. Don't worry what anybody else is doing.
 
Thanks guys,

One of the things I am worried about and this might be without reason is messing around with strong winds and knocking the boat over. Is this a risk in a 27ft yacht? May be a daft question but interested to know your thoughts.

Cheers Karl
 
Strong SW or not this Saturday??
Magic Seaweed say no, XC weather looks windier......

Karl, I'd be more interested in the tide direction against the wind and the direction you intend to go rather than the wind speed.

As example... I'm leaving the Medway to take the tide to Harwich on Saturday am. Wind hopefully on the rear quarter and forecast in the F5-7 range, tide in same direction will hopefully mean surfing off the chop and not a lot of apparent wind - shorts and T shirt.

Leaving Harwich Saturday pm and taking tide down to the Medway against the breeze = tough trip, reefed main, waterproofs on etc, avoid!

If you're going upwind with a 6 in the forecast for a long way it's likely to get miserable after a time.

Hope that's helpful!
 
Opsguy1979 said:
Thanks guys,

One of the things I am worried about and this might be without reason is messing around with strong winds and knocking the boat over. Is this a risk in a 27ft yacht? May be a daft question but interested to know your thoughts.

Cheers Karl
Click to expand...

With reefed sails and dumping the main it is very unlikely that the wind will knock the boat over. X-yacht Dave (hello Dave) is right about the tide and that has a bearing on the sea state. To be honest, wind is not usually the problem - wind and sea state together can make it very unpleasant.

Stick your nose out and if you don't like come back in - nobody will criticise a sensible decision.
 
MoodySabre said:
wind is not usually the problem - wind and sea state together can make it very unpleasant.

.
Click to expand...

This is very true.

Even on the Blackwater, where I am based, when the wind is blowing down river and the tide is coming in against it, it really can pick the water up with pretty steep waves. Turn either the tide or wind in the other direction and it's a nice flat, fun sail for all.

I still reiterate about learning what the boat does and when. A good few years ago now, we were on a sailing course on a Bavaria 36 (Pretty average, average boat) and technically we should have reefed. However since we had a boat full of hardy (ish) firemen, the Instructor kept the boat under full sail with me at the helm, to show us what happens on that boat when over-canvassed. Cutting to the chase, I gradually had to apply more and more helm (turns of the wheel) untill I was at full lock and could turn no more. The boat, quite gracefully, turned into the wind and stopped. You'll be surprised how many on-board thought the boat would fall over. The only drawback was after that everyone wanted to sail everywhere with the guardrail in the water :)
 
I don't know what type of 27 footer the OP has, but a snug boat like a Cutlass will behave differently from a more blousy design, mentioning no names. I have sailed over-canvassed in boats from 26-34 feet both through laziness and because I was racing and it is certainly possible to do so safely in sheltered waters. The important thing I found was to keep the boat's speed up and maintain control, which is lost when the keel stalls, resulting in more heel. I flattish water, going to windward, I prefer to pinch a little rather than ease the sheets since a flapping sail induces more drag.

The old rules of thumb were:
A cruiser reefs for the gusts but a racer reefs for the lulls, and
You should reef for the sea state rather than the wind.
 
johnalison said:
I don't know what type of 27 footer the OP has, but a snug boat like a Cutlass will behave differently from a more blousy design, mentioning no names. I have sailed over-canvassed in boats from 26-34 feet both through laziness and because I was racing and it is certainly possible to do so safely in sheltered waters. The important thing I found was to keep the boat's speed up and maintain control, which is lost when the keel stalls, resulting in more heel. I flattish water, going to windward, I prefer to pinch a little rather than ease the sheets since a flapping sail induces more drag.

The old rules of thumb were:
A cruiser reefs for the gusts but a racer reefs for the lulls, and
You should reef for the sea state rather than the wind.
Click to expand...

I remember the first time I went out in a fair blow. I did what I thought was the sensible thing; one reef in the main and I set the jib instead of the genoa. Big mistake! No power to push through the waves and a very slow passage as a result. One reef in the main and full genoa would have been right.

I left the Ore last Sunday in a fair breeze under motor. Before leaving, I had set one reef in the main and had the genoa ready to hoist. As it turned out, the reef was not required after an hour or so.

Referring to previous posts: set sail for the sea conditions as much as the wind and always remember that it's easier to shake out a reef than it is to put one in under duress.

Rule of thumb? If you think it's time to put in a reef you are probably wrong. The right time was an hour ago!
 
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