Decision Making Take a trial run past the buoy to check the depth and the direction of wind and stream.
Decide which sail to use by sailing past the buoy into stream and letting out both sails. Take down whichever sail does not spill wind and approach with the sail that will.
Mainsail will not spill – take it down and approach under headsail
If the main and headsail flap, use both sails or just the mainsail
Wind Against Stream
Approach downwind into the stream using the headsail. Control speed by furling most of the sail away or dropping it. Slewing the boat across the tide, one way and then the other, strips speed from the yacht.
Wind Only
Sail up to the buoy on a close reach under mainsail. Ease the sail to slow down. In light wind, both sails may be required.