No Wind, Sails Still Up?

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I have flogged my mainsail in calms for 35,000 miles with no damage.

If I was calmed for 35,000 miles I'd give up sailing -

At least I'd have pulled the main down after 25,000 or so...

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by simonpickard

Hello all,

Thanks for all the responses, been good reading for me.
So, what about when you're downwind? Had this the other day. No wind, under motor, and the main was up tightly in. (I didn't matter if I had the main out I still had the issue below).

Still had some nasty action going on where the sail backed (I guess gybed?). It did this for a while so and it didn't matter what angle I turned onto so I took it down.

I'm confused a bit now. If you are motoring downwind, let's say 4 knots and the sail fills from behind you and the boom gybes - methinks you should be sailing not motoring.

It would indicate the wind from astern is greater than 4 knots - i.e. the wind is overtaking the boat?

Downwind a lot of new folks think they are doing poorly because there is little relative wind over the decks. It's hot and sticky and a newbie sometimes says to me, "No wind. Should we tun on the engine?"

I point to the knotmeter and show them we are doing 4 knots and that's just OK by me. Reaching and beating is a lot cooler and "feels" faster.

I am with the poster that sheets tight and traveller up - if you can overcenter your boom you can get the sail to flog less or even fills at the cost of some boat drag.

I am with Mark that light flapping of the mainsail is not too harmful to the sail. I don't like it and try to avoid it because I hate the noise.