High wind sailing.

Since we are on the subject of high wind sailing and PTP sails a 6.0 I thought I would give my take on it.

The 6.0 can be sailed in 30 knots + in open water conditions on an upwind downwind course if the helm and crew are experienced. It is however risky and the likely hood of breaking something expensive is very high. I would expect to average 2-300$ per day in breakages in a Curacao type venue windy with steep waves.

Here are my recommendations:
New Shrouds and diamond wires
Replace the dolphin striker and rod if it is more then 2 years old.
Replace the end fittings on your bow foil every 2 years. Make sure the end fittings on the spreader arms are not corroded; replace the beam bolts every other year
Remove roller furling for the jib. They can’t be furled reliably anyway and when they break, you demast.
Cary a spare traveler car for the main. Replace the bolts on the traveler car with titanium ones. Change them every 2nd heavy air day.
Switch to a very stiff set of lower 3 battens in the main
If you can, borrow a Nacra 5.8 Standard (not NA) jib
Buy very aggressive nonskid for the sides of the boat. You want the nasty sandpaper stuff and wear booties. Foot straps and chicken lines are good if the legs of the course are long
Spreader rake: 2.125“ 550 lbs on the outer diamonds 250 on the inner ones. Reinforce the spreader bracket where it attaches to the mast if it extends to the sail track or it will pinch the sail track. Too little spreader rake or tension will result in mast inversion and a broken mast.
Mast rake: I like about 30” in big breeze measured from the trap attachment point.
Downhaul: Maxed out, upwind in 20+ and downwind in 25+. You don’t need the power. Note that when you ease the main as you bear off to go downwind with the downhaul maxed it is terrible for the sail so your mainsail life will be dramatically affected.
Outhaul
Mainsheet: Sheet with both hands upwind. Sheet until the lowest batten on the mainsail inverts, then ease it until it pops onto the right side.
Main traveler is eased 6” to 2feet depending on wind speed. The more you ease
Jib cars go all the way outboard and fairly far back. Sheet as hard as possible. Jib downhaul is on hard all the time.
Daggerboards are up 1/3 upwind and downwind

UpWind in 25-30+, the driver keeps the mainsheet. In a big puff the crew eases the jib and the skipper heads up. If you ease the main without easing the NA jib (large) you will bear off and flip every time. In a good blow the jib has a lot more power then the rudders. In big waves, be careful of getting your weight too far back or the wind under the trampoline will capsize you over backwards. Trapeze as low as possible. You need every bit of righting moment you can get. You should be getting slammed by a wave every 30 seconds or so if you are low enough. The crew should take most of the abuse so the skipper can drive

When it is very windy, don’t be afraid to wait at the windward mark for a lull before you bear off to go down wind.
First make sure both sailors are at the extreme rear of the boat. Wait for a wave trough Ease main and blow jib completely. Turn down hard and fast. Do not go forward to undo downhaul, set rotation, etc. don’t [censored] with it. Keep your weight all the way back. You will basically be sailing dead downwind. The jib may flop over to the other side. If it does head up the minimum it takes to keep it on the same side as the main. Keep both hulls level. You need both bows for buoyancy. Have the crew hand hold the jib and release it completely in a big puff. In big waves, be very careful not to stuff into the back of a wave. If you do the bowfoil will hit hard and may break- leading to a dismasting. The bowfoils seem to take 2-3 big hits before failing. In 30+ knots, you will pitchpole about 1 in 4 times when you jibe, so don’t do it any more then you have too.

You will find that if your tolerance for broken gear is high and you wallet allows it; sailing in big air is a lot of fun. The more you do it, the longer you can sail without going into survival mode. With a little practice you can crush anyone that is in survival mode if you are still racing.

On the 6.0, carry a spare mast, sails, bowfoil, rigging, rudder, dagger board, rudder casting tiller crossbeam and hotstick should get you through most breakages.

Good Luck
Eric Anderson