F7-8 DDW techniques

[TheThunderbird]

Under 3-reefed main, and stay sail, I was heading 160° to wind, gybing as necessary

Seas was 6ft, a bit breaking


Out of laziness! I tried to sail with sails on both sides, with immediate advantages!:

. Main pumps Wind into the staysail, making it more efficient
. DDW is better than tacking
. Boat feels acceleration, and goes faster
. Waves at 140/160° force on the helm, and some did break into cockpit. None at all with butterfly sails
. On top, the staysail is the best wind tail , showing you what to do in real time
. Finally, in case of undesired closing upwind, under big waves, the staysail helps controlling the boat back on course, by receiving wind on its outer side

All in all, more relaxed, faster, drier, lesser risk of gybing inadvertently (I have current halyards...)

With low winds, butterfly is choppy and fastidious, but on strong winds i found it simply great.

OK, you may say I discover hot water... but never thought using butterfly sails in F7-F8 (I had F6 apparent, at 8-9kn)

PS sailing from Volcano to Taormina, I passed the Strait.
Gosh, the first mile is a truly boiling cauldron, white sea,and waves raising 2' in a mile fetch. Really troublesome at view
..
Just to stress the advantages of cutter rig, later with changing winds and strong guts, full main + staysail is perfect, just a main's traveller loosened under guts makes for it all