Against the wind
I'm still runnin' against the wind
I'm older now but still running
Against the wind...
Bob Segar - 1980
Not withstanding a Minnesota winter that just wouldn't let go, this year has been so much of a better sailing year for me. I've changed from my weekly posting asking the great people here, "what should I have done when this happened" to now (more or less) knowing, but even more importantly, being ready, to do what needs to be done when something unexpected happens on the water. It's not a year without any challenges, but now I'll try 3-4 things before I give up and come here to again ask "what should I have done when this happened". But when none of those things seem to work... well here I am...
This is a 2 part question, but it all spawns from trying to sail out into a strongish headwind.
1- If you have to (have to) launch single handed from a dock into a straight in headwind (15+ kts), I know the only choice is to tack out, but from a dead standstill at a 16ft. dock, how in the heck to you prep the boat (what sails are set how), centerboard up/down? etc., what direction to point, and then push off, and find a way to make any kind of forward progress before you just blow into shore? Or can this simply not be done? There doesn't seem to be enough water between the end of the dock and shore to build up enough speed to tack. Anyone know any tricks for that scenario>
2- Assuming that can't be done... my next question goes back to electric trolling motors. I've read (I think) pretty much everything written here on trolling motors and there has been a lot of it, primarily focusing on speed and duration based on wiring, battery size requirements and weight, and often with comparisons to gas outboard alternatives. To the engineers or those who are really good at figuring out formulas for things. Is there anything known or that can be derived for a trolling motor thrust rating against a Daysailer frontal surface area, weight and opposing wind speed? In other words, taking a nominal (sails furled and/or down) 800lb (to pick a number) DS2 with a 15 mph headwind, how much thrust is needed to cancel the wind (assuming every lb. of thrust beyond that results in forward progress of some kind).
I've had 4 blowy days this season, wind straight into the dock, that I've tried to sail out into, and 4 times I've found myself against the shore. Twice I was able to throw a line to our dock and get back, once I had to get towed out from being hung up on shoreline tree, and once I simply got out and pulled the boat along the shore back to the dock. I don't know now big my electric trolling motor is, but clearly not big enough.
Anyone with thoughts or solutions to these two headwind based questions?
Thanks - Scott