OK, so someone tell me what is the best way to sail downwind in a 16 when it is blowing the dogs off the chains. I am still trying to unlock this one!
In Delaware at the NAs in 2003 we had one day of BIG wind on Thursday. (Race committee reported sustained 30s and a puff to 44!!)
It seemed the preferred approach was to let the jib flog (so as to not push the bows down), travel the main out (so as to not gybe!), sheet on hard and be ready to do the big ease in a puff, and drive as low as you dare go without gybing.
All of that makes sense to me. But looking at the South Africa Worlds photos, i am seeing these guys sheeted off big time. It seems to me if you sheet off you present more of the sail perpendicular to the wind. Yes, it opens the leech, but you still have that big rag 90 deg. to the wind.
Thoughts?
