Roadie
Member
I sail a Radial (unless really quiet) on a really shifty little lake. If I am sailing in an average wind of about 15 knots, where I can have the boat fully powered up and lots of 20+ knot gusts blow through for 30 seconds or so all the time, how should I set the boat up? Should I set the Outhaul and Downhaul for the average wind and the have the Vang tight at block to block and sheet the sail in the gusts. Or should I depower the sail so I am not overpowered in the gusts and bust my guts moving my bodyweight in and out? I would have though the first method is faster as you can keep the speed high and I have had good results with it but a lot of good sailors in the club use the second method to success. Others just feather the boat into the wind with the rudder and get stuck head to wind or stall out when the gust stops...
Any advice would be appreciated, any other ideas I haven't mentioned would be appreciated.
Any advice would be appreciated, any other ideas I haven't mentioned would be appreciated.