Hi,

last weekend we was out distance racing with the big monohulls. My wife was crewing on the Tornado and we was having a good time in low winds. Typical 1 - 2 meters a second.
As we passed an crossing fjord the wind changed to a beam reach and 11 - 13 meters a second (measured with wind instruments on a mono). We was of course having a good time, albeit wind against stream made some quite steep waves. The monos surrounding us was properly impressed..

After rounding a mark, we had to go upwind against the 11 - 13 m/s wind. This was only the third time my wife sailed the Tornado, and the first time in a trapeze harness.
We abandoned the race after about half an hour of beating, and reached off home instead.

The reason we abandoned was that I did not want to sail dead downwind in that amount of wind with my wife. As it is now, she is keen to go sailing and trapezeing again. But after a pitchpole I dont think I would see her anywhere close to the Tornado again.

All this brings me to my question: When will a 16, 18 or 20 feet long cat pitchpole. How hard does it have to blow if your hulls are in good shape (clean og smooth) and you sail dead downwind. Both crew on the back of the boat, and using both bows for bouancy forward.
I have stuffed both bows dead downwind several times with the old Tornado rig. But have not had an opportunity to try it with the new rig..

Any good ideas about 'survival sailing' downwind i heavy winds ?

Is it prudent to avoid the kite when it blows above 10 m/s ?

Btw: An 28 feet monohull averaged 23 knots with spi downwind in those conditions..

For those not using the metrical system, here is a small comparison table.

2.5 m/s = 4 knots
4,5 m/s = 9 knots
6,5 m/s = 13 knots
9,5 m/s = 18 knots
12,5 m/s = 24 knots
15,5 m/s = 30 knots