60
SVN Solovelanet Global
Sailing upwind
If you haven't a better alternative could happens
that you must sail upwind, the golden rule is to man-
tain sufficient speed and power to cross waves and
avoid breking crests. Lot of experience is required
and total concentration, is totally unconfortable fal-
ling off the waves with dangerosuly bangs with the
risk of damaging bulkheads and rigging.
The boat speed sailing upwind usually is compromi-
sed and an alternative if you have suffcient sea room
is considering heaving-to.
Heaving-to
From close-haul/reach prepare to tack without tou-
ching the sheets and lock the helm to winward. If
you don't want to go on the oppsite tack just trim the
jib aback and the main in hard and the helm locked
to winward.
With these simple actions you can "park" the boat in
open sea giving you the chance to rest, have a meal,
check over the boat or just waiting that the storm
passes. The main advantage is that you don't have
to stay at the helm (if it safe to do so) an go down
below.
Heaving-to with the addition of a sea anchor is one
of the best conservative storm tactics, but at the
same time is one of the most easy and quiet way to
set a reef without stressing sails, rigging and crew
nerves!
A medium ratio allows a good speed,
smooth steering and a good control
A
lso known as "Drifter", it is a superlight
hoisted headsail for light and very light
breezes.
It is used when obtaining maximum perfor
-
mance in light air is the priority. Under these
conditions it generates great power and can
make a difference by keeping momentum in
extreme lack of wind.
Built with lightweight material, it is not hoisted
and smaller in size than the larger and heavier
standard headsails in order to remain under
pressure, and it also takes advantage of the
pressure given by the roll of the boat.
The Windseeker
