Chris,

Could a drogue do this?
Yes, but they are always nasty to bring back aboard. It's worst than
a wet sail because it has to hold water. You can't put it anyplace
that water isn't running out of it.

Why would you do this? I kind of lost there.

How did you get the boat out of the harbor?
If it was towed, stay under tow until the main is set.
If you are under power, use the power to hold head to wind...
If you are sailing alone, if it is a real small boat learn to work fast.
If it is larger, buy and auto-pilot (the best thing ever for setting
and clearing sail short handed).

Matt Colie
Lifelong Waterman, Licensed Mariner and Pathological Sailor





wrote:

Thanks, that makes sense.
Do you know any rule of thumb how large the hole should be, and how
long the cone should be in relation to the front diameter?
I was thinking of using a drogue from the bow of the boat to keep it
pointed into the wind for raising/lowering sails. Is this practical?

Thanks again,

Chris



Glenn Ashmore wrote:

Like a traditional parachute it spills water to keep the maximum drag. To
over simplify it, if the water builds up inside a dome of higher pressure
builds up across the leading edges and the flow becomes more like dragging a
ball than a cone. It will start wobbling and loose drag.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

wrote in message
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What is it good for? Retrieval?