SAILBOAT STRUGGLING IN STRONG WINDS

sailboat flying full canvas on gusty wind day on San Francisco Bay and being pulled to weather in the wind gusts.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• sailboat
• sailing
• san
• francisco
• bay

[LUCASgProductions]

san fran is always like that

[charliebergstedt]

no, not always. in the winter, we often have lighter winds, but in late spring, summer and fall, the winds are almost always howling on the central bay and it's best to be out there with reefed sails.

[JammerJawz]

Looks like the captain was uncomfortable with the heeling of the boat and was working the tiller excessively. Maybe he should have reefed the sails.

[charliebergstedt]

the boat was carrying too much sail and was being pulled to weather. definitely could have used a reef in the main!

[KF7AYS]

The amount of sail was just fine. The captain needs to give up sailing and go drive a powerboat because he/she doesn't have a clue what they are doing.

[nabreucow]

Non-sailor sailing?

[119glory]

@KF7AYS Na I would have agreed with the other comments actually, needs a reef. He may well be a competent halmsman and just not used to that amount of pull

[lostindiancamp]

I don't know anything about sailing, but wouldn't it be best to take down the sails in wind such as this and wait it out or use the engine?

[DisruptiveMoose]

Too much power in the sails, causing excessive heeling which results in weather helm. The main doesn't really need to be reefed, just flattened right off (cunningham, vang, outhaul and backstay). Have the mainsail trimmer pull in the mainsheet tight and them trim the main from the traveller. That way you keep the leech pulled down tight and stop the sail being too full. If you move the genoa cars back a bit too so you're sheeting off of the foot of the sail you'll spill power out of the top.

[davemakesawave]

I would have sheeted out a bit and spilled some power, the heel of the boat is forcing it to turn along the curve of the hull.

[englandrugby13]

those guys obviously don't know how to sail a boat in heavy wind.

[BlueLineSpeed]

@BlueLineSpeed I have to add the above comment is more for cruising and gaining control, for racing tactics consult the yachts polars for best wind/sail configurations.

[BlueLineSpeed]

Having twist in the main only works unitl about 15-20kts depending upond boat type. after that more benefit is gained from reefing the main and flattening the main using vang, sheet, track and outhaul. Flattening the sail will de power it. Then sail the main on the track, Mainsheet sets twist and depth (with some exceptions) and Track controls sail AOA. let the sail down the track in the gusts decreasing its AOA and thus decreasing power. I hope the event didn't scare anyone. safe sailing

[johnchang7]

if he couldn't reef the main at least let the main out and set it more on a beam than close hauled. It looked like he got a little freaked out with the heeling and he threw the boat to irons.