After all my complaining about not enough wind, as the sun set today the wind picked up further to the point it was too much for the gennaker. The gennaker is rated at a max apparent wind speed of 18knots. Since the wind is currently coming from directly behind, and with a boat speed of a minimum of 8 knots, that means once the wind exceeds a true 26 knots, the gennaker could tear. I definitely don't want that. Also the boat just hit 20.3 knots surfing down a wave which is way too fast for my comfort. On top of that darkness is impending. So, how to furl 100 square meters of sail in heavy wind? I unfurled the genoa so it caught the wind instead of the gennaker (the gennaker is mounted at the end of a 2 meter bowsprit) allowing the gennaker to flap in the spoiled air behind the genny. Worked like a charm.
Yes, Sallie, I had my life vest and harness on. Especially after seeing a big wave come from a different direction than the primary wave train and break over the cockpit side earlier today. Ocean sailing at its best as long as nothing breaks :-)
This weather front is supposed to pass thru tonight and leave 15 knots of wind behind it.
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