Good Practice When Sailing in Strong Winds

Good preparation is essential, as is timely action by the crew. There is a reason for the old skippers’ saying:

“If you are thinking about reefing, it is time to reef.”

The sail area must always suit the current wind strength. A typical beginner’s mistake is to wait too long before reefing. When the wind strength changes, the sail area must be adjusted too.

Safe sailing also includes shaking out reefs. When the wind eases, you can of course increase the sail area again. 😉

A slight heel to leeward is ideal.

A sailing yacht sails best with only a slight heel to leeward. This keeps everyone on board comfortable and reduces strain on the equipment. It is a misconception that a sailing yacht should heel as much as possible. Excessive heel is more a sign of an irresponsible skipper who is inconsiderate towards the crew.

Watch the headsail when sailing on a broad reach.

When sailing downwind, the headsail is an excellent indicator of whether the boat is still on a safe broad reach or has moved onto a less safe dead run. A dead run is less safe because an accidental gybe can occur.

When sailing with the wind, you should always stay on a broad reach. The headsail then sets properly and its sheet is taut. As soon as the headsail’s clew collapses, the headsail is in the mainsail’s wind shadow and the boat is on a dead run. In this case, head up immediately until the headsail sets properly again. 🙂