choosing downwind sails
When heading off cruising and especially offshore, a downwind sail is essential to get you going in light airs, to maintain good average speeds as soon as there’s wind, and of course to escape the hum of the engines - to say nothing of the fuel tank levels. And if you had to choose just one, which of these fairly lightweight sails should you choose?
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Publié le
22/09/2021
Par
Olivier Barret
Numéro :
180
Parution :
Nov.
/
Dec.
2021
In theory, if you’re doing a transatlantic passage in the trade winds, a good old symmetrical spinnaker that allows you to go far downwind to limit gybes would fit the bill. Likewise, if you’re only going coastal cruising, a gennaker allowing you to enjoy some good reaching and also do some upwind work if necessary (yes, it does happen sometimes that the wind refuses to cooperate as you close the coast) would be ideal. But in practice, things are more balanced. Starting with the budget: once you’ve purchased your multihull, and added all t…
