Reef wind speeds on catamaran

[AndyBerry]

Looking at suggested reef points for catamarans and downwind suggests more reefing than upwind. With lower apparent wind why would you reef more for downwind than upwind?

[Cotemar]

Each Catamaran design has its own REEFING CHART that should be followed to sail it safely.

In most catamaran designs its just bare poles at 50 knots.
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[boatman61]

Originally Posted by AndyBerry

Looking at suggested reef points for catamarans and downwind suggests more reefing than upwind. With lower apparent wind why would you reef more for downwind than upwind?

Condo Windage...

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Condo Windage...

Ahem, you mean the rigid spinnaker (AKA deck house).

[StuM]

Originally Posted by AndyBerry

Looking at suggested reef points for catamarans and downwind suggests more reefing than upwind. With lower apparent wind why would you reef more for downwind than upwind?

Are the figures you are looking at for true or apparent wind?

If you're sailing downwind with an apparent wind speed of 15 knots, it's going to get a lot higher when you turn, so time to reef. If you are sailing to windward and have 15 knots apparent, no problem.

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Ahem, you mean the rigid spinnaker (AKA deck house).

Lmao! I like that.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by StuM

Are the figures you are looking at for true or apparent wind?

If you're sailing downwind with an apparent wind speed of 15 knots, it's going to get a lot higher when you turn, so time to reef. If you are sailing to windward and have 15 knots apparent, no problem.

Give StuM the gold star!

[Privilege]

If you're sailing upwind and the wind continues to increase, reefing is fairly easy in that you turn into the wind, luff your sail (or just before that point) and reef. Sailing downwind when the wind increases can be dangerous as it's now much harder to reef. It's unlikely that you can reef your sail when it's full of wind so the alternative is to turn around into the wind, thus coming broadside to increasing winds with too much sail up.

[Training Wheels]

Never carry more mainsail downwind then you would going upwind. Reefing the main going downwind isn't that difficult, it just takes longer. Much more preferable than turning upwind. If you're overpowered going downwind, you'll be really overpowered when you turn upwind.

[YPSILANTI]

One of the most dangerous conditions for cats is surfing too fast with the with the risk of pitch poling. Thats a good reason to reef more downwing which is less dangerous that sailing upwind.

[AndyBerry]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

Each Catamaran design has its own REEFING CHART that should be followed to sail it safely.

In most catamaran designs its just bare poles at 50 knots.
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Thanks for chart. Are those speeds true or apparent?

[DotDun]

Originally Posted by AndyBerry

Thanks for chart. Are those speeds true or apparent?

The boat only sees apparent wind.....