PART 5


SHORTENING SAIL Shortening sail is another way to keep your boat in bal- ance and under control when the wind increases. You can choose several options for reducing sail, depending on what’s available on your boat, the wind and sea conditions and the direction from which the wind is blowing. Remem- ber, the best time to shorten sail is before your boat be- comes overpowered!


Most boats have a system for reef- ing the mainsail by lowering the sail and tying the lower portion to the boom.


A simple way to shorten sail is to change down to a smaller jib, which will reduce the sideways force on the sails and help keep the boat upright.


Heeling the boat over and fight- ing the pull on the helm may feel powerful, but the force of the extra wind only pushes the boat sideways and creates drag on the rudder. You’ll sail safer and faster with the boat more upright and the helm more balanced by having the right amount of sail for the wind conditions.


When sailing in very strong winds, you can sail with main alone, which will tend to turn the boat into the wind (weather helm) when a puff hits.


One option for downwind sailing is to sail under jib alone. In strong winds on a fractionally rigged boat, beware of placing too much load on the mast at the forestay.


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