Virgin Run!

I have had a G Cat 5.7 for a couple of years and sailed it in some local lakes mostly. However, our family (inlaws and outlaws) are vacationing down in Destin in a couple of weeks and I am bringing my boat. I am excited/apprehensive about my first run in the gulf. Any advice on a first run from the beach? Thanks.

Avoid going head-to-the-wind at all costs. The waves will set you back and there will likely be rudder damage or worse. Keep the boat moving, and balance your sails so you'll keep going even with relatively little rudder input. To bear off, the jib should be sheeted more than the main, and to head up, the opposite. I've had the best luck centering the traveller and twisting the main to make thrust down low, while having the crew play the jib sheet for maximum power. Best of luck! It's ok not to go if it's too scary - worst is wind and waves both directly onshore. Best is beam reach in and out.

Enjoy!

Echoing a little what was said above, balancing the boat with the sails is the important part of getting through the surf - and only on the days where the surf is big and the wind is light is it really tricky.

It's important to steer with your sails since you will need to have some directional control before the rudders are fully engaged. With an onshore breeze, keep the jib sheeted tightly so that it keeps pulling the bows down. Sheet in the main gently and be conscious that it will want to head the boat head to wind when it comes in too far...it will need to stay pretty far out. Put a lot of twist in the main and leave the traveler about half way down. Sheet in the main as much as the boat can handle it....however, if you are making headway safely through the waves, don't sheet in the main anymore...be happy with that.

Oh! And with the enthusiastic sage words Gaulden Reed once told me before a Tybee500 start a couple of years ago. "Don't forget your paddle today, boys".

Thanks for the advice guys. Hope I don't experience my first pitch-pole, which will lead to my first righting experience as well!

God Bless

You do have some type of righting line on your boat, right? And while you are blast reaching across the wind, keep your weight at the back so you don't stuff the low bow coming down off a wave,or you will experience your first pitch pole, and righting situation!

Good idea to have an anchor