[Rhodes22-list] Thoughts on motor-sailing

[John Lock]

Until this past weekend, I was a purist - If there was wind, I 
sailed.  If there was not, I motored (or didn't go out at all).  But 
we're settling into a summertime pattern here in the south where 
there's just not going to be much wind most of the time.

This past weekend, we had a beautiful weekend to sail, other than the 
lack of wind.  So we headed out anyway, determined to make a day of 
it no matter what.  Mostly winds were less than 5, if the air moved 
at all.  But I hoisted ever square inch of sail we had and try to 
catch some of it.

When we got a puff, the sails filled and we'd move a little 
bit.  Then we'd sit and rock on the boat wakes waiting for the next 
puff, the GPS stubbornly reporting 0kts.  I finally said "screw 
this!" and started the motor.

As often happens when out on the water, I discovered something very 
pleasant.  If I kept the motor throttled back, only making 3kts or 
so, it was just enough to keep the sails filled.  When the wind did 
return, I could feel the boat heel and I'd kick the motor into 
neutral.  The sails were already shaped to catch the slight 
breeze.  Fabulous!  If the puff held long enough, I'd cut the motor 
altogether and use sail power for as long as it lasted.  When it 
quit, one pull on the starter rope kept us going.

It was a great feeling to know that I wouldn't be relegated to the 
power boat all summer whenever we wanted to go out and about.  By 
using just the right combination of power and sail, I could still 
maintain the illusion sailing, even if it wasn't a pure experience. ;-)

Cheers!

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