Single handed with too much wind

[Watermelon]

I've sailed in 30-35 kts out on the bay (not my home pond), but no rollerfurler (my jib is hank-on). Sailing with both sails up made the ride exciting. Tried the reefed main first. It was okay, but it was a dog to tack, and would end up having to "chicken tack" (think chicken jibe, but instead, for tacking instead of for jibe) and couldn't point too well. I'd be caught in irons every time I tried to tack. Then, I doused the main and raised the jib. That worked out extremely well. I could tack, I could point well, I was moving decently, waves weren't a problem (swells were only 6 feet). It's different for every boat and sailor's comfort and ability.

Of course, if it's really kicking, go bare poles and drop anchor. If you've got plenty of sea room and too deep to anchor, then drop a sea anchor or a drogue.

[feetup]

Sailbot;
As has been stated, spend a few bucks on blocks, cam or clamcleats and get your halyards run to the cockpit. Then if you have a hanked on jib you might install a simple downhaul and a bit of netting off the lifelines foward. With that you can dump the jib and get it on deck without going forward. I'm a bit surprised you don't have reef point on your main, or perhaps you just haven't rigged to reef quickly, ie Jiffy Reefing. Most boats will be better in the rough with some (but not too much) sail up, as it dampens the motion conciderably.
Look carefully at ways to reduce sail quickly so as not to have the boat over powered. A good blow can be enjoyable with the right amount of sail set. And remember the old saying, "if you are wondering whether to reef, REEF!"

Feetup
After all's been said and done, there's a lot more said than done.

[sailortjk1]

After all's been said and done, there's a lot more said than done.

Ha! That slogan fits this place to a tee.

[TrueBlue]

Originally Posted by feetup

Feetup
After all's been said and done, there's a lot more said than done.

Originally Posted by sailortjk1

Ha! That slogan fits this place to a tee.

How very true tj.
I will make a daring guess, that at least half of forum members who reply to poster's questions, obtained the info by Googling, instead of through their own experience.

[nolatom]

TB, You may be right on some topics, who knows, but "how do I handle heavy air?" doesn't lend itself quite so conveniently to Google answers as it does to practical experience. I think our original poster would prefer the latter.

[Giulietta]

Originally Posted by TrueBlue

I will make a daring guess, that at least half of forum members who reply to poster's questions, obtained the info by Googling, instead of through their own experience.

Only half???? And you only found about that now??

I suspect that of a lot of "proeminent" members here..

[TrueBlue]

That's a fair assessment Tom, that applies to most sailing and seamanship topics. I wasn't referring to this thread at all.

I'm just appalled by the number of replies on other topics, that contain direct quotes from Google searches. That practice is basically an insult to the OP's ability to use search engines.

Giu, sorry to expose your secrets like that . . . really I am (g).

[Giulietta]

Originally Posted by TrueBlue

Giu, sorry to expose your secrets like that . . . really I am (g).

No problem....now what was your question again??

Noooo I am not ignoring you....

[Boasun]

It is great that we can explain our own experiences here. But what is even better that you will have an understanding of what to do if you are caught out there in heavy weather and gain your own experiences.
So read about what we have done and then practice it in moderate weather a few times and see how your boat handles. Yes practice, practice and more practice. Then when you do have to handle your boat in extreme weather you will be able to do it out of habit and safely.

[sailbot]

Awesome, like u said prevention is 9 tenths, but then I'de have no stories to tell, and no experience with the big blows.
In a big wind , I find if the bow is not pointed into the wind, the main is very hard to pull down. I learnt this the hard way too. Its amazing how nuch strength a guy has when he's scared poopless.
The jib ( a Hank on) seems to come down no matter which way I'm pointed.

Thanks for all the sage advice !