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David Sheriff
Board Administrator
Username: admin
Post Number: 123
Registered: 01-2004
| | Posted on Monday, November 19, 2007 - 11:31 am: | 
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Update: La Mouette has now been modified so I can handle the main from the cockpit including reefing. I only have one reef and I cannot travel down very easily yet, but I can keep her on her bottom in 20 knots or so singlehanded. If there is any sign of decent wind I go out reefed. That gets me comfortably through hurricane gulch. It's easier to shake out an unneeded reef than it is to reef in a little too much wind, particularly singlehanded.
I have also rigged the jib furler with a block and a cam cleat so I can haul on the line from anywhere in the cockpit (thanks to the turning block) and further furl the headsail. The cam cleat keeps it from getting away from me when I reach to get another handful of furling line.
Forget everything I ever said about the efficiency of a partially furled headsail. Hell if you can't point as high. Once you have the sail all in front of the mast it makes tacking a lot easier in a bit of a breeze. |
David Sheriff
Board Administrator
Username: admin
Post Number: 73
Registered: 01-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 26, 2006 - 10:48 am: |
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The Stormsail Club was stymied by lack of owners willing to see their boats go out in bad weather. I now have a boat, but not enough confidence in its rigging to go out in blustry conditions - yet. I still thing the principle is sound - learn how you and your boat do in modestly challenging water so that you do not completely freak out if you get surprised. I can tell you that 20 knots singlehanded in LaMouette the way she is set up is a real handful.
I have learned the value of partially rolling up the headsail. I can't reef the main without leaving the cockpit but in 20 knots running the main very inefficiently has proved to be enough as long as the jib is under control. |
david (david)
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 08:56 am: |
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Also, over the two days I learned that a properly sized headsail is better than rolling in the jib until the right amount of dacron is exposed. You don't need the efficiency of good sail shape to make headway, but you cannot point as high. |
david (david)
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 08:51 am: |
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A cool, secret handshake. . . . Probably involving wet sailing gloves. . . .
What I learned on my last trip: Put on your foulies BEFORE you get wet the first time. Also, Foulies keep you dry, not warm.
I understand Mark used to run a heavy weather class out of Aventura until they made him stop because it was hard on the boats. Any comments by those who may have been involved?
I have read that most people do not willingly go into heavy weather because the experience can be scary and nauseating. Well, you need to learn how to do it in some way, and being out there is the only way I know. The advantages of a "heavy weather club" is thet you only need to be out for a few hours and it doesn't wipe you out like fighting the weather for days. The disadvantage is that you have to be ready to go on fairly short notice.
I did ok with the nausea, but I am now sporting a shiner where the dodger hit my cheekbone. This is definitely an "at your own risk" sort of experience.
But the boat was great. No harder to handle than in a light breeze, once you got used to the swells. No problem with excessive weather helm either. We took care not to overpower the boat and we still made 4-5 knots on a beat and 7-8 on a broad reach. |
Charles
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 - 01:25 pm: |
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I'm in...but only if the club has a cool secret handshake! |
susie (susie)
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 - 11:52 am: |
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I join the foul weather club! |
david (david)
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 - 11:11 am: |
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Jonathan, his friend Don and I had a simply wonderful time Monday. It was my first time out in 25 kts, and we had a blast.
We put the "dirty" sail back on P. because it has a good, small second reef and just ran the storm staysail in front. We occasionally buried the rail with just that.
We took pictures, more details later. I want to form a foul-weather club for those interested in gaining experience in something other than the pussy weather we usually have here in SoCal. |
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