A quick sailing lesson please

[GILow]

I have tried our staysail with and without the boom. With the boom it certainly is easier to manage, set and forget, tacking up the river to the club was a breeze. Also easier to get a good shape from the staysail.


But the boom on the foredeck wrecked one of the best aspects of our boat, which was the big clear uncluttered decks. Also, it just felt like it was going to cause a serious injury sooner or later. It's one thing to have to worry about where the mainsail boom is, at least on our boat it is mostly well above head height, but the staysail boom was just itching to clobber a knee or break a shin.


I've gone with the safer, slightly more labour intensive option, and left the staysail boom in the shed.


Matt