mixmkr
Well-Known Member
I know what the Sunfish Bible says...what do you do downwind?
Seems the Bible likes dead downwind over a reach too.
Seems the Bible likes dead downwind over a reach too.
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YesReaching is distinct from downwind sailing because the angle (with respect to the wind) for reaching is significantly different from that for downwind sailing. Typically, reaching is faster.
Pros and cons of sailing by the lee is a topic usually discussed by racers. Do you want to go into that?
Recently, I didn't have any choice. The wind was too strong, and the shoreline too close. Since I already had my hands full, dodging moorings, docks, and rafts, raising the daggerboard wasn't an option. (Which would have allowed the Sunfish to get closer to the wind's speed, and to ease a gybe). I'm very grateful for those "extra" three feet of mainsheet!Thanks but wasnt looking for elementary descriptions.
If the topic is as you say limited to racers, I dont subscribe to that.
I was wondering how many sail by the lee in their Sunfish and 2ndly if they prefering reaching and gybing over dead downdwind, unlike what the Bible recommends for arriving at at a specific location faster.
I dont recall extra length mentioned specifically for that but the Bible does suggest that point of sail.....I guess assuming the class legal length sheet would allow for that. My mainsheet doest skimp on length allowing the sail to be centerline....but over the bow! Im sacrificing cockpit tidyness over loosing a knotted mainsheet to be able to hang on to the boat with any wind direction with heavy winds.... If I'm in the drink after righting a capsize and the waves or wind want to spin it around downwind.Speaking of which, does the Sunfish Bible suggest having a long-enough mainsheet to even make sailing by the lee possible?
Recently, I didn't have any choice. The wind was too strong, and the shoreline too close. Since I already had my hands full, dodging moorings, docks, and rafts, raising the daggerboard wasn't an option. (Which would have allowed the Sunfish to get closer to the wind's speed, and to ease a gybe). I'm very grateful for those "extra" three feet of mainsheet!
Speaking of which, does the Sunfish Bible suggest having a long-enough mainsheet to even make sailing by the lee possible?
Sailing by the lee is NOT a method to prevent swimming. In fact, it's the opposite because if one sails too much by the lee, a sudden jibe will likely get you into trouble.A sailfish will plane running in a strong wind, but sailing by the lee is a necessary tool to avoid going swimming. I believe the phenomenon is called "death roll'
Andy...great reasons....ones I was looking to hear. Over 15kts seems like a thrill ride, going by the lee.
I understand what you've written but, by "sailing by the lee", you're already "heading-upwind".In 5-10 mph it's possible to sail about 30 degrees off a straight downwind course. I look at the leach and when it starts to move inward (impending a jibe), one can correct by heading upwind a bit. One can certainly sail by the lee in bigger breeze, but one has to be very attentive so as not to jibe accidentally
I might be nervous too sailing with my inspection port cover open!! (3:30 of the video)The video camera is mounted to a very nervous skipper,
No. By-the-lee means only that the wind hits the boat from the (legal) leeward side of the boat, that is, from where the boom is pointing. Centre of effort is fixed in relation to the spars by cloth tension and spar bend, and has nothing to do with wind direction.In "sailing by the lee", one is effectively moving the center of effort towards the upper spar (& mast). Is that correct?
I saw that. A handy place to store leftover line.I might be nervous too sailing with my inspection port cover open!! (3:30 of the video)