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To keep yor sail insurance fully topped up, and just in case the wind changed and blew in from seaward, we put two reefs in the mainsail and left the staysail and its sheets fully rigged before we turned in for the night. Sails of the correct size for the worst case conditions, and instantly ready for use. In the event of an emergency, all it would take would be sailing skills... and the confidence to use them.
So, how do you gain this confi¬dence? First compare the wonderful simplicity of the basic sailing machine to your engine with its hun¬dreds of moving parts. If the sails are strongly built, they'll work in winds from 3 knots right up to 50. Once you've considered this, you should begin practising what we call 'engine quits drill'. Each time you're under power, think of what you'd do if the engine quit right now. Quiz your crew and discuss possible actions. And remember - don't waste time. It's better to use the what's left of the boat's momentum to head to wind¬ward so you have room to either raise your sails or fmd a place to anchor. .. before you go below to try and re-start the engine. Set up theo¬retical situations each time you go sailing. Leave your engine in neutral and practice using sail power only ¬to anchor, to sail away from your anchor, to sail into a tiny cove. Practise buoying the end of your anchor rode and sailing free of your ground tackle. But hardest yet most important of all, next time you're out sailing and fmd yourself running homeward before a fresh wind, don't head sraight for the harbour even if the allure of hot rum punch and a shower tempt you. Instead, make the hard choice. Thrn around while you still have plenty of searoom. Reef the sails and practise getting your boat effectively to windward.
Not only will you become more comfortable with sailing in strong winds, but even more importantly, you'll gain vital knowledge of what sail area your boat will comfortably carry in strong conditions, exactly like the crew of Amola II who were able to estimate what sail area could safely be borne before they beat to windward and reached the safety of the open sea. You'll learn what sail combinations balance best, you'll assess and improve leads and sail handling gear, gain the confidence to depend on your sails in ever heavier winds and feel more comfortable about what you personally can handle windwise. As your confidence grows, consider joining some local club regattas. The close quarter sailing offered at race start lines, plus the need to sail in strong and light winds in order to finish the course, will help you gain confidence in your general sailing skills. Word from the wise
Eric Hiscock, the dean of cruising under sail, told us: "The biggest change I've seen over the past 40 years is that people have stopped thinking of their boats as sailing vessels with auxiliary motors and have come to consider them as motorboats with auxiliary sails. Therefore few are learning to manoeuvre well under sail." Only by turning the tables and gaining confidence in your sailing abilities, practising engine failure drills in ever-closer quarters, and upgrading your boat and its gear so you can swiftly switch to sail, will you be able to take advantage of sail insurance. Do this and any engine shutdown will turn from a frightening life-endanger¬ing Mayday to only a minor incident ¬or even one that gives you the same sense of satisfaction el\ioyed by the crew of the Cal-40 Amola II at Cabo San Lucas. |
Boat Handeling 