How to Sail a Boat Better - Gusty Weather Sailing With "Push, Pop, and Pinch"
Have you ever been caught out in gusty weather, unable to reef right away because you are short handed? Sure, you should have reefed earlier, but we all push the envelope more than we should once in a while. Now what, skipper? These three techniques will show you how to sail a boat in gusty weather under control until you get around to sail reefing.
Put the triple power of push, pop, and pinch into play when sailing by yourself or shorthanded. These methods concentrate on the mainsail. You can use similar actions with the headsail, but you want to make the main less powerful for the most effective temporary fix.
And remember, these steps are just that! This does not in any way take the place of reefing. When you have the sea room, heave to or stop the boat and get your sails reefed. But until then, push, pop, and pinch!
Push
Push the traveler all the way downwind along the traveler track. In gusty winds, you want to make your boat sails less efficient but still keep the boat under control with good drive. This action step opens the slot between the mainsail and headsail to de-power your sails but keeps the boat on her feet.
Pop
Pop the mainsheet. Dinghy sailors work the mainsheet in and out all the time to spill high octane wind up high. When you pop the mainsheet and ease off on it, the top of the mainsail twists to leeward and helps dump wind off the top of the sail. The boat becomes more level without fear of capsizing.
Small cruising boats or racing sailboats won't capsize in gusty conditions, but they will dig their rails in the water and heel a lot. You've seen the pictures of boats with their rails in the water. This might look cool, but it's not efficient sailing. Matter of fact, it slows the boat and causes severe weather helm. Take a hint from the pro dinghy sailors and ease off on the mainsheet to keep the rail out of the water and the boat more balanced.
Pinch
Pinch up when a gust hits. Keep your eyes peeled to windward. See those dark patches on the water? Those are high velocity wind envelopes headed your way. Head up a few degrees just before the gust hits. Allow the forward third of the mainsail to luff so that you still have power and drive.
Use these three easy techniques as a temporary fix until you can get around to sail reefing. Put "push, pop, and pinch" into play and learn how to sail a boat better the next time you get caught out in gusty weather.
Put the triple power of push, pop, and pinch into play when sailing by yourself or shorthanded. These methods concentrate on the mainsail. You can use similar actions with the headsail, but you want to make the main less powerful for the most effective temporary fix.
And remember, these steps are just that! This does not in any way take the place of reefing. When you have the sea room, heave to or stop the boat and get your sails reefed. But until then, push, pop, and pinch!
Push
Push the traveler all the way downwind along the traveler track. In gusty winds, you want to make your boat sails less efficient but still keep the boat under control with good drive. This action step opens the slot between the mainsail and headsail to de-power your sails but keeps the boat on her feet.
Pop
Pop the mainsheet. Dinghy sailors work the mainsheet in and out all the time to spill high octane wind up high. When you pop the mainsheet and ease off on it, the top of the mainsail twists to leeward and helps dump wind off the top of the sail. The boat becomes more level without fear of capsizing.
Small cruising boats or racing sailboats won't capsize in gusty conditions, but they will dig their rails in the water and heel a lot. You've seen the pictures of boats with their rails in the water. This might look cool, but it's not efficient sailing. Matter of fact, it slows the boat and causes severe weather helm. Take a hint from the pro dinghy sailors and ease off on the mainsheet to keep the rail out of the water and the boat more balanced.
Pinch
Pinch up when a gust hits. Keep your eyes peeled to windward. See those dark patches on the water? Those are high velocity wind envelopes headed your way. Head up a few degrees just before the gust hits. Allow the forward third of the mainsail to luff so that you still have power and drive.
Use these three easy techniques as a temporary fix until you can get around to sail reefing. Put "push, pop, and pinch" into play and learn how to sail a boat better the next time you get caught out in gusty weather.
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