Off the wind in a following sea and current tends to want to drive the bow down, In the trough the main is closer to the water and takes a little less velocity from the wind. As the following swell catches up, it will raise the stern, lower the bow while increasing the drive on the mainsail which can lead to rounding up, or worse, rounding down. Compensate by moving self and passengers aft. This helps get the bow out of the rudder business and puts the rudder back in charge like it oughta be. Of course, a reef in the main and/or a smaller jib has the same effect, and as stated in another post, moves the center of effort inboard. It also tends to minimize worried looks and hysterical wailing from your crew.....
All this talk of following seas reminds me of one of my finer moments long ago when I raced my Laser in a mixed fleet on Big Lake, in Alaska. That day on the downwind leg, the Laser started in with a series of death rolls that I was trying to control by throwing myself side to side in the boat. No time to steer, all I could do was yell "look out -- out of control!!!" as I zoomed through the fleet, mast pitching side to side, almost a knock down or a round up with every roll. Ya' gotta love a Laser downwind in a blow. Keith Diehl Salt Lake City, UT
What........no spinnaker? On Aug 11, 2009, at 7:32 PM, Keith Diehl wrote:
All this talk of following seas reminds me of one of my finer moments long ago when I raced my Laser in a mixed fleet on Big Lake, in Alaska.
That day on the downwind leg, the Laser started in with a series of death rolls that I was trying to control by throwing myself side to side in the boat. No time to steer, all I could do was yell "look out -- out of control!!!" as I zoomed through the fleet, mast pitching side to side, almost a knock down or a round up with every roll.
Ya' gotta love a Laser downwind in a blow.
Keith Diehl Salt Lake City, UT
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participants (3)
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Blake Reimer -
Howard Audsley -
Keith Diehl