Quote:
Originally Posted by bobmcgov
Small craft can move along pretty well in light winds, which is curiously detrimental to pointing ability. Your boat speed is a fairly large percentage of true wind speed. The net effect is a 'header' where apparent wind keeps moving toward your bows and you have to fall off. Then the boat accelerates, and the wind moves forward, forcing you to fall off again.  Our Buccaneer18 is naughty that way.
As winds increase, the true wind may outpace boatspeed and seem to come more abeam -- a 'lift', which allows you to point higher. But eventually heeling force overpowers the small boat, you have to crack the sheets, and your pointing ability suffers again. In screaming winds, a beam reach may be the best you can do. Our dinghy points best between roughly 8 and 12 kts TWS. |
I just wanted to say this is one of the most useful bits of information I've read yet on sailing a small boat. I've experienced this in my (very) very small boat, and wasn't sure what was going on. As it's a lateen rig most of the trimming advice isn't applicable, but this explains so much.
Thanks!
Bill