FARRIER MARINE
Page 19
Copyright © 2012 By Farrier Marine
need to tack the jib, and the fully battened main remains
docile and easy to handle.
When running downwind in strong winds , it is safer to
run with a headsail only. It is also still possible to go to
windward and tack while sailing under either jib or main-
sail alone.
Strong and gusty Winds
:
additional caution should
be exercised in gusty winds.
Always
have the sheet of
the largest sail up, be it the mainsail, genoa, or spinnaker,
in hand, ready for quick release.
Use only the cam-
cleats provided and
never use self-tailers
as cleats in
high winds - they are too difficult to release fast.
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, reef until you are comfortable.
DANGER
Never leave the sheets unattended if unreefed
and the wind is exceeding 20 knots
If being pressed while reaching then it is better to
bear
away
downwind
than round up. The boat will slow down,
and the mast momentum from the turn is to windward,
reducing heel. Round up and speed may increase sur-
prisingly, while mast is thrown to leeward, heeling the
boat more.
The only time to round up is while hard on the wind or
close reaching (do not bear away in either case). Round-
ing up or luffing will feather sails until any gust passes by.
In general, your visual indication of being overpow-
ered 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 for the best
comfort. If sailing for speed, 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
The basic technique is to sail downwind while keeping
the apparent wind at about 90 , trimming the sails so they
are not stalling or luffing. The jib, for instance, should be
sheeted to the float just aft of the forward beam. The extra
speed generated will pull the apparent wind further
forward, allowing you to go deeper and deeper while
maintaining a very high speed. Just keep the apparent
wind at around 90 . It can be tricky to get the right angles,
but if done correctly, the results can be devastating.
Flying jib inside the spinnaker may also help improve
performance with a rotating mast in light winds, by
smoothing and speeding up the wind flow over the mast.
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.
Always reduce sail
when required as follows:
Wind Range
Maximum Sail Configuration
to 12 knots
Genoa or screacher & mainsail
12 -20 knots
Jib and mainsail
20 - 25 knots
Jib and mainsail with 1st reef
25 - 35 knots
Jib and mainsail with 2nd reef
35 - 45 knots
Jib only, or Storm jib & main 2nd reef
45 knots +
Storm jib or main only with 3rd reef
A more detailed chart for each model is on last page
The sail configurations recommended above are for
standard cruising designs and have been arrived at from
practical experience over many years of sailing Farrier
trimarans in many differing conditions.
If necessary, all sail can be taken
down and a properly set up Storm
Parachute Anchor put out. This is
now a well proven method for a mul-
tihull to survive even the worst off-
shore storm. It appears to virtually
eliminate the danger of capsize from
both extreme wave action and hurri-
cane force winds.
Other variations of the above are
possible depending on the circum-
stances, and racing versions will need
to reef earlier. Experienced and alert
racing crews can also delay reefing
to 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 con-
sidered necessary. This avoids the
This is definitely not safe sailing with a novice crew aboard! DO NOT do this sort
of thing with family or inexperienced crew on board. To be safe, always reef early.
Summary of Contents for F-22
Page 42: ......
