Quote:
Originally Posted by StuM
It can calm the seas to a certain extent since you are often drifting slightly downwind through your own "wind shadow" or "slick".
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True when actually hove to in the classical sense, making no headway at all... then the slick, or upwelling of water from under the sideways-moving
keel, does tend to keep seas from breaking upon you.
Most modern
boats will not achieve that state, rather fore reaching slowly as well as making a lot of leeway. Then you get the reduction of motion and heel angle, but not the protection of the slick. That's what we get when we "heave to" in our fin
keel, shallow
hull Solent
sloop.
The Pardey's promoted technique of using a very small parachute
sea anchor canted off with a line to an after
winch claims to help achieve the desired drift down
wind. They make a good case for it, but I've never tried it myself, nor has anyone that I know personally... maybe a good thing, maybe not.
Jim