Took my little homebuilt 12' MiniCup sailboat to the lake today in
maybe 12 kt wind. She has a HUGE lateen sail so in this kind of wind
she is like a rocket. It is a wonderful feeling to have to really
pull on the tiller as she tries to round her bow into the wind heeled
over so far the water is sloshing into the cockpit. My homemade
polytarp sail sewn on my wifes sewing machine was as taut as a drum
and when I looked up the aluminum spars were actually bending a
little. Looking behind, she is throwing an amazing wake. I actually
had to push the tiller back and forth to be able to keep her upright
allowing her to heel almost too far and then pointing her a little
more toward the wind to reduce the heel. Even the newly reinforced
tiller box is bending under the strain. The best part of it all is
that it is perfectly safe. If she turns over, I can easily right
her. If she actually collapses under the strain, it is an easy swim
to shore. She cost me hardly anything so if she gets damaged by too
much wind, it's no big deal. A wonderful way to spend 3 hours.