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Old 28-05-2014, 01:37   #1
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No Wind, Sails Still Up?

Hello all,

Please forgive me in advance if I'm asking a really stupid question. I've only been cruising for a short while but have noticed time and again that in little to no wind boats still have their main sail up. Most of the time this is flogging around like a mad thing so not offering any power to the boat.

Why is this? Is it a safety thing in case the engine goes? I can't see any other reason for it.

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Old 28-05-2014, 02:07   #2
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Re: No wind, sails still up?

If sheeted flat, the main will help reduce rolling, and will likely add at least a little drive. And, as you say, it's there if the engine quits or indeed if the wind returns. It's likely that we all have that hope in mind as we motor along!

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Old 28-05-2014, 02:16   #3
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Re: No wind, sails still up?

When the wind goes away & you consider motoring . . . the accepted combination is "motor & main" . . .
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Old 28-05-2014, 02:47   #4
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Re: No wind, sails still up?

yes, unfortunately few sailors also have their inverted triangle flying from their speader to indicate that they are, despite having a mainsail up, in reality a boat under engine propulsion and should be treated as such according to the colregs.
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Old 28-05-2014, 03:28   #5
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Re: No wind, sails still up?

Quote:
Originally Posted by simonpickard View Post
... Most of the time this is flogging around like a mad thing so not offering any power to the boat.
They shouldn't be flogging, that wrecks the sails and rigging.

I often have to head pretty much into the prevailing wind as I leave our club and will hoist the sails then sheet them in very tight while I motor down the channel, on the basis that I am ready to sail as soon as I round the corner and wind is no longer against me, and also I have plenty of options should the engine go phht. It's a busy channel and I would hate to be without power at a critical moment.

But I would NEVER, ever let them flog while doing that, if the wind is right on the nose I will "tack" up the channel under motor to keep some pressure on the sails.

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Old 28-05-2014, 03:40   #6
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Re: No wind, sails still up?

Quote:
Originally Posted by carstenb View Post
yes, unfortunately few sailors also have their inverted triangle flying from their speader

define "few" as I don't have one and have NEVER seen one being flow

most people can tell if a sailboat is motoring
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Old 28-05-2014, 04:02   #7
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Re: No wind, sails still up?

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They shouldn't be flogging, that wrecks the sails and rigging.

But I would NEVER, ever let them flog while doing that, if the wind is right on the nose I will "tack" up the channel under motor to keep some pressure on the sails.

Matt
If you're in VERY light winds though, to the point where the boat speed matches the wind, it's impossible to keep pressure in them.

That's the part I'm confused about.

You can sheet in as much as you want but if your boat speed is roughly matching the wind the sails will flap. Now there might not be much force on them, so maybe it's not an issue?
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Old 28-05-2014, 04:26   #8
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Re: No wind, sails still up?

The day shape (inverted cone) rule for motoring under sail applies to sailing vessels 12 meters (39 feet) long or greater. If you're less than 39 ft. it's optional.

I have displayed a ball when anchored outside of a charted anchorage area during the day.
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Old 28-05-2014, 04:59   #9
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Re: No wind, sails still up?

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Originally Posted by sailorboy1 View Post
define "few" as I don't have one and have NEVER seen one being flow

most people can tell if a sailboat is motoring
Few is damn few. The German coast guard (and the Swedish) get pretty uptight about this. So if sailing in their waters, it is best to fly one.
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Old 28-05-2014, 08:16   #10
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Re: No wind, sails still up?

I have flogged my mainsail in calms for 35,000 miles with no damage.
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Old 28-05-2014, 08:22   #11
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Re: No wind, sails still up?

Quote:
Originally Posted by sailorboy1 View Post

most people can tell if a sailboat is motoring
Seriously, how can you tell? If the sail is up and they are motoring, they are sailing very close to the wind - Naturally, if it is dead calm - no problem to be able to tell. But some sailors also do this when there is wind - how then?

You aren't by any chance suggesting that bosters simply ignore the colregs?

What I don't understand is why they don't fly one. It costs virtually nothing and takes only a few seconds to hoist.
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Old 28-05-2014, 08:32   #12
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Re: No wind, sails still up?

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Few is damn few. The German coast guard (and the Swedish) get pretty uptight about this. So if sailing in their waters, it is best to fly one.
I almost always use mine.

In UK waters not much enforced, and I don't hoist mine if there's no traffic. But if there's traffic around, it's just common courtesy to let other know that you don't claim the status of being under sail. Not just courtesy -- safer, too, as it reduces potential confusion about who stands on and who gives way. So I use mine quite often.

In Continental waters, I always use it, traffic or not, as the authorities can be very picky about it.
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Old 28-05-2014, 08:42   #13
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Re: No wind, sails still up?

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Originally Posted by sailorboy1 View Post
define "few" as I don't have one and have NEVER seen one being flow

most people can tell if a sailboat is motoring
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Old 28-05-2014, 08:50   #14
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Re: No wind, sails still up?

Quote:
Originally Posted by simonpickard View Post
If you're in VERY light winds though, to the point where the boat speed matches the wind, it's impossible to keep pressure in them.

That's the part I'm confused about.

You can sheet in as much as you want but if your boat speed is roughly matching the wind the sails will flap. Now there might not be much force on them, so maybe it's not an issue?
Reefing your mainsail (rolling part of it in if it's on a furler) can help. So can moving the traveler to windward on some boats.
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Old 28-05-2014, 08:57   #15
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Re: No wind, sails still up?

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Originally Posted by Tempest245 View Post
...

I have displayed a ball when anchored outside of a charted anchorage area during the day.
The ball needn't be show in designated "special" anchorage areas (unless vessel is 20 meters or more in length) but it is needed (unless vessel is under seven meters in length) in designated "general" anchorages. (ColRegs rule 30)

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