Sailmaker's dream day

[Faster]

My former sailing grounds in Squamish, BC, is famous for it's daily inflow winds reaching 20+ knots pretty much daily in summertime. This year's SOAR (Squamish Open Annual Regatta) feeder race into Squamish hit breezes that went to 30+ with reports of 35 knots in the last mile or so. We would get such days two or three times a year in summer.

The Utube video linked below dramtically shows the difficulties crews can have with spinnakers if they are caught unawares or lack experience in those conditions.

The 2nd link is the event video, with action from Friday and also from Saturday's much different main event. This regatta has been going for over 30 years now and is one of BCs longest running sailboat races. btw EVERYBODY was reportedly grinning wildly, even after Friday's pandemonium.





http://www.mmxproductions.com/video/SOAR%202010.wmv

[DrB]

With main alone, you should be at or greater than hull speed. Flying a kite is just asking for trouble.

[Faster]

Originally Posted by DrB

With main alone, you should be at or greater than hull speed. Flying a kite is just asking for trouble.

I don't disagree... I think because the breeze builds here dramatically in the last mile or so most were caught unawares... and then there's the guy on your transom who might sneak by...... .. and that testosterone thing too..

[CapTim]

great video.. very cool!

[FarCry]

Originally Posted by DrB

With main alone, you should be at or greater than hull speed. Flying a kite is just asking for trouble.

Some boats can actually plane. I didn't see any in the video but have been on small boats that can. It is a rush!!!!

[ste27]

Originally Posted by DrB

With main alone, you should be at or greater than hull speed. Flying a kite is just asking for trouble.

I've done it several times, with the right crew... it's quick - if your boat will plane. I've done 14kt on a J/24 and seen someone do 17+ on an Etchells (passing a J/105 that was reading 17 on their transducer and GPS)

[smackdaddy]

Man what a shredder! See, that's just the other side of a good BFS. Ripped your kite? You blew it. No soup for you.

[JohnRPollard]

Some nice round-ups, there!! Great video.

Yeah, it can really sneak up on you when you're sailing downwind like that. Even without a chute up, you can get caught unawares with a full main and genny as the wind builds from astern.

But rounding up or shredding a chute is slow. That's where it's nice to have a smaller, heavier chute like a 1.5 oz. Some of those in the video looked more like all-purpose chutes. Having multiple chutes is expensive, but so is replacing them.

[puddinlegs]

The hard call is when to peel to the shy kite. But agreed, with the right boat and a good crew, downwind in a blow is fast, fun, and yes, interestingly scary.

[blt2ski]

I saw this video I thought a week or two ago, was it on here? or am I recalling somewhere else, like maybe SA?

Marty