OzOne wrote:
Funny init?
In an Etchells going from 10 to 15kts, you'd allow the boat to climb
up on the gust and sheet IN!

OK, I'm guessing that the increased leach tension is going to bend the
mast a bit & flatten the sail?

Stuff like this is one reason why I said "It depends on the boat." Some
boats will not be fully powered up yet. Trapeze boats will notice the
increased chop more than the increased wind, largely because they'll be
going faster. Some boats would be on the verge of overpowered at 10
knots, so at 15 they'll be taking steps to not get knocked down.


At 10 kts we'll be set really soft to keep the head of the sails open
and flowing, the gust will pull them too open and you'll need to sheet
in to keep the power up.

What about adjusting the traveller and jib leads? One thing I don't like
about the Lightning is that the adjustments are quirky; a dual
adjustable bridle instead of a traveller and the jib sheet lead tracks
are neither straight nor aimed at the bow, so any adjustment affects
pointing & slot width as well as leach tension. Funky. Temperamental.
PITA until you get used to it.


If the breeze was holding, I'd be looking at another couple of steps
on the front mast block and removing all chocks from behind the stick.

Because you're shifting the mast aft or because you're holding the lower
section straight?

A tad more backstay would be needed to hold up the forestay and the
luff tension on the jib would come on as it would be well scalloped at
10kts.
Outhaul would be pulled outanother couple of inches.
Traveller may drop a tad but that would depend on the sea state.

And, as Doug suggested, all bums would be well over the side, forard
hand will be out to his knees with a foot locked undr the jib sheet
he's holding and middle would be there as well with the mainsheet in
hand, Skipper would hike as far as comfortable to maintain good
control and would have the backstay fine in hand to balance the helm
when small alterations are required.

Discussion would take place as to whether the breeze will stay in and
continue to freshen.
If so, forard hand will probably duck down to leeward and take about 3
or 4 turns on the lowers just before we tack next. He'll then do the
same after the tack to the other side and after we have the boat
settled on the new tack.
We'd possibly consider a jib change on the next run.....

Busy eh?

Sounds like a lot of damn work to me... OTOH I get frustrated sailing
with skippers who just lock everything down and drive it like a station
wagon...

Fresh Breezes- Doug King