Originally Posted by Baltic
Originally Posted by srm

After all depowering that can be done through tuning is done, reducing sail area is the safest and most effective next step towards depowering.
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When you talk about depowering, I assume you mean, as far as the main is concerned, maximum downhaul and minimum outhaul. How about mastrotation - fully in? Reducing sail area is on modern F18s not an option since we don't have self-furlings jibs anymore ...


Yes, tension the sail to be as flat as possible- max outhaul & downhaul. In a true survival situation, drop the main and go downwind under jib alone. I saw one of the top H16 sailors in our area do this once a few years ago. We had to get to a tiny beach dead downwind that was situated in an area surrounded by pilings, bulkheads, and docks. Downwind under jib alone is no big deal. Its only when you have to try to go back upwind that it is an issue.

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