[Rhodes22-list] How to handle gusty winds?

[John Lock]

Hi folks,

Had another (mostly) good sail in Pandion yesterday.  Weather report 
said winds would be NW at 10-20.  What I experienced was more like 
0-20.  At this stage in my learning experience I found it very 
difficult to judge how much sail to have up.  The wind speed varied 
so widely and quickly, that I got caught at one end of the extreme or 
the other at various times.

At first the wind was very light, so I pulled out most of the 
genoa.  The main was always fully set because I haven't mastered 
roller reefing it yet.  As the wind picked up everything would work 
quite nicely.  My course put me on a close- or beam-reach depending 
on what direction the wind was coming from.  Got zipping along at 
6.2kts at one point.  A new record for us!  :-)

Then the wind would suddenly gust into the 15-20 range and all hell 
broke loose.  We heeled over hard putting the rail in the 
water.  Stuff was flying everywhere (including my wife, who did not 
wish to be flying anywhere).  I thought we were going to lay it right 
down on the side, but I managed to let the main sheet go and the gust 
passed as quickly as it had arrived.

Whew!  We sorted things out and got back on course.  I left the main 
hanging out wide just to catch less air.  Pulled the genoa back to 
about 1/3 and got things back under control.  Then the wind died to 
less than 5.  Barely a puff.  <sigh> Our speed reduce to about 
0.5.  Crap, not even enough to maintain my heading.

So, I pulled the genoa back out most of the way and started trimming 
the main back in until the wind decided to pick up again in a few 
minutes.  Got nicely under way again for a little while until I could 
see/feel another gust coming.  This time I just released the main 
sheet quickly and let it go.  We still grabbed a lot of air in the 
genoa and heeled over pretty hard again, but more in control this 
time and with less hysterics.

And of course, the breeze died away again after that gust and we were 
back to just floating.

Needless to say this was getting frustrating.  We were either 
becalmed or bepanicked!  So... how does one cope with winds that 
variable?  Especially you Hartwell sailors, you're probably 
experiencing much the same thing right now.

Cheers!

John Lock
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s/v Pandion - '79 Rhodes 22
Lake Sinclair, GA
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