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SAFE SAILING
RECOMMENDATIONS
DANGER
Be fully aware that it is possible to capsize any
multihull and the following rules should always be
observed for safe sailing
1. Reduce sail early as follows:
a. Main should be reefed to reef points when
wind reaches 20 knots.
b. In 30 knots main furl main to 3rd batten.
Other variations of the above are possible depending
on the circumstances. Experienced and alert racing
crews can delay reefing to even well beyond the above
limits.
A quick way to reduce sail and achieve a very
comfortable and safe motion is to simply drop the
jib and sail under main only, reefed if considered
necessary. This avoids the need to tack the jib and the
fully battened main remains docile and easy to handle.
Sometimes when running downwind, it is better to drop
the main and run under jib only. Corsair trimarans can
go to windward and tack while sailing under either jib or
mainsail alone.
2. When winds are strong and gusty, and the boat is
being sailed hard, crews should always have the
sheet of the largest sail, be it the mainsail, jib, or
spinnaker in hand, ready for quick release.
Always be ready to release the sheets if you feel
the boat is being pressed too hard. Instruct your
crew to do likewise. If concerned, then just reef
until you are comfortable.
When reaching, it is better to bear away downwind
than round up. The boat will slow down and
mast momentum from the turn is to windward,
reducing heel. Round up and speed may increase
surprisingly, while mast is thrown to leeward
heeling the boat more.
The only time to luff up is while hard on the wind.
Do not bear away in this case, feathering the sails
until any gust passes by.
In general, your visual indication of being
overpowered is when the leeward float is pressed
far enough down to have waves regularly wash
over it. If cruising with your family then you should
reef before this happens for the best comfort. If
sailing for speed then this is not of great concern,
providing the crew is vigilant and this sort of sailing
has been done for hours at very high speeds.
It is not unusual to drive the low resistance float
bows through waves or even submerge the float in
some circumstances. This has been found to have
no adverse effect on the boat and in fact the boat
will tend to round up slightly, not slew to leeward
as commonly and mistakenly believed. However,
this is sailing on the limit so don’t push your luck
unless prepared for a ducking.
3. Beware of being caught side on with little speed
and with all sails sheeted in tight. This can happen
after a tack if concentration is lost.
4. If caught in a severe thunderstorm, a simple safety
procedure is to drop all sail and simply let the boat
drift. You will lay side on to the wind which is quite
safe unless the waves are very large, in which
case you should steer off downwind. Corsairs will
steer quite well from a reach to run with no sails
up in winds over 5 knots - try it sometime. It is
even possible to round up into the wind.
5. Always listen to the latest weather forecast before
you set out on any sailing trip.
6. Always leave yourself a large safety margin, be it
while sailing or simply motoring around.
7. Always carry full safety gear, including life jackets
as required by your country’s Coast Guard and
local regulations.
For safety, always wear a life jacket when sailing
hard. Always keep the sheet in hand ready for
instant release
DANGER
Never leave the sheets unattended if un-reefed and
the wind is exceeding 20+ knots.
The above procedures will give a high margin of
safety and should always be observed whenever
safety is paramount. If absolute performance is
required and an experienced crew is aboard, the
above limits can be comfortably exceeded.
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