[Rhodes22-list] How to handle gusty winds?

[Rob Lowe]

John,
Watch the water.  You should be able to see the wind coming.  Next time your
out in gusty conditions, take a look at the water.  I also sail on a lake
with very gusty conditions.  I've gotten pretty good at predicting when a
gust will hit.

Rob Lowe
' 74 S/V Getaway

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Lock" <jlock at relevantarts.com>
To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Friday, April 20, 2007 2:23 PM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] How to handle gusty winds?


> 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
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> s/v Pandion - '79 Rhodes 22
> Lake Sinclair, GA
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
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