I was curious what landing techniques are most commonly used when strong winds (15 +) are blowing on shore in a crowded area (I did a quick search and was unsuccessful in finding other threads). Here are the few I'm aware of with their respective pros and cons. I am curious what is generally the best in terms of speed, safety , and equipment. My experience is limited, especially in these circumstances.
1) Make a broad reach, and then head up at the last minute and back the boat on to the dolly (dolly handle is in the water so you have to push it out.) Pro: Keep positve control and sail out of trouble if necessary. Con: Takes more room and backing the boat is awkward.
2) Broad reach and head up (same as above). Disconnect clew from boom and turn the boat around to load on the dolly. Use the dolly normally. Pro: Similar to number 1. Con: sail floggs and similar issue as above.
3) Make a DDW approach. Centerline the boom and disconnect the clew. Pro: Requires little room. Con: sail flogs & high risk of unintentonal capsize.
4) Make a DDW approach. Remove the main sheet and let the boom spin forward (assumes your mast retaining line allows this amount of rotation). Pro. Requires little room and sail does not flog as baddly. Con: Hard to maintain positive control of boom with other around.
5) Get close to shore (any approach you want). Intentionally capsize the boat. Remove mast, boom, and sail). (I suppose as variation you could disconnect the sail and remove it with just the top section of the mast and roll it up to the battens lay on the deck as you right the boat. Pro: best for sail and easy to load the boat on the dolly--minimum windage. Con: Requries a lot of room and good timing for a controlled capsize.
Thoughts?
Scott
1) Make a broad reach, and then head up at the last minute and back the boat on to the dolly (dolly handle is in the water so you have to push it out.) Pro: Keep positve control and sail out of trouble if necessary. Con: Takes more room and backing the boat is awkward.
2) Broad reach and head up (same as above). Disconnect clew from boom and turn the boat around to load on the dolly. Use the dolly normally. Pro: Similar to number 1. Con: sail floggs and similar issue as above.
3) Make a DDW approach. Centerline the boom and disconnect the clew. Pro: Requires little room. Con: sail flogs & high risk of unintentonal capsize.
4) Make a DDW approach. Remove the main sheet and let the boom spin forward (assumes your mast retaining line allows this amount of rotation). Pro. Requires little room and sail does not flog as baddly. Con: Hard to maintain positive control of boom with other around.
5) Get close to shore (any approach you want). Intentionally capsize the boat. Remove mast, boom, and sail). (I suppose as variation you could disconnect the sail and remove it with just the top section of the mast and roll it up to the battens lay on the deck as you right the boat. Pro: best for sail and easy to load the boat on the dolly--minimum windage. Con: Requries a lot of room and good timing for a controlled capsize.
Thoughts?
Scott