Re: trailer launching - Sail question
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2020 7:27 pm
There is no question that any attempt at sailing off the dock should be done with both sails -- only exception might be if the wind is totally from behind so that the jib would pull you in the desired direction. The DS cannot really be sailed under jib alone. (And also, if you are planning to heave to, the wind will have to be offshore so that you have the sea room to raise the main). The only time I've sailed off a beach without both sails raised is when it's a beach, so I have to be nose in, and the wind is such that it would drive the boat back into the beach before I can turn.
Having a flogging jib can be unnerving. You don't write what the strength of the wind was. Were there little white caps all over the place? That would be more than you might want to attempt without a bit of experience. If there weren't any white caps, that means either the bay was so narrow they couldn't form, or more likely that the wind was well below 15 knots (except for isolated gusts).
After this experience, you probably plan on putting stopper knots in your jib sheets - I actually tie mine together (but that works best only for "non-captive" cleats).
The key to having a good time on the water if the winds are a bit stronger is to work on your response to gusts. And, perhaps if you don't have that already, set up a strong boom vang.
With the vang tight, the mast bends and flattens the main. Outhaul out, cunningham if you have it, tight, otherwise halyard really tight. Then, when the gust hits you can let the main out just a bit and also head up into the wind a bit more (feather the boat). Both actions depower the rig. You would want to sit out and hike (same for your crew) to keep the boat level: ease-hike-trim is the motto, where "trim" refers to trimming in the main once your boat has accelerated to the gust.
I find the DS a handful when singlehanding in anything past 14 knots. Part of the reason is that I don't like to hike all that vigorously when I'm by myself; exception would be if I'm on a really well-populated lake, say as part of an evening regatta. But up to about there, I can usually manage fine; even if I spill power much earlier than I would with a crew.
PS: hope your father is fine. Not the kind of call I would want to get when struggling with getting the boat off the water.
That said, when gusts are much stronger than the prevailing wind, you're not looking at a relaxed sail. You'll have to be on your toes and change trim constantly between the lulls and gusts. It can be exciting, especially if you can translate the gusts into acceleration, but it will be work.
Having a flogging jib can be unnerving. You don't write what the strength of the wind was. Were there little white caps all over the place? That would be more than you might want to attempt without a bit of experience. If there weren't any white caps, that means either the bay was so narrow they couldn't form, or more likely that the wind was well below 15 knots (except for isolated gusts).
After this experience, you probably plan on putting stopper knots in your jib sheets - I actually tie mine together (but that works best only for "non-captive" cleats).
The key to having a good time on the water if the winds are a bit stronger is to work on your response to gusts. And, perhaps if you don't have that already, set up a strong boom vang.
With the vang tight, the mast bends and flattens the main. Outhaul out, cunningham if you have it, tight, otherwise halyard really tight. Then, when the gust hits you can let the main out just a bit and also head up into the wind a bit more (feather the boat). Both actions depower the rig. You would want to sit out and hike (same for your crew) to keep the boat level: ease-hike-trim is the motto, where "trim" refers to trimming in the main once your boat has accelerated to the gust.
I find the DS a handful when singlehanding in anything past 14 knots. Part of the reason is that I don't like to hike all that vigorously when I'm by myself; exception would be if I'm on a really well-populated lake, say as part of an evening regatta. But up to about there, I can usually manage fine; even if I spill power much earlier than I would with a crew.
PS: hope your father is fine. Not the kind of call I would want to get when struggling with getting the boat off the water.
That said, when gusts are much stronger than the prevailing wind, you're not looking at a relaxed sail. You'll have to be on your toes and change trim constantly between the lulls and gusts. It can be exciting, especially if you can translate the gusts into acceleration, but it will be work.