Texas 200 and reefing
Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2017 4:10 pm
Just got back from the 2017 Texas 200. Two hundred miles up the Texas coast with lots of wind, heat and shallow water!
I would wake up in the mornings with the wind aready blowing 10-12 knots and in Texas it usually builds from there. Although it really didn't get too bad I started the day with the second reef in the sail. I was sailing solo and its a real pain to put in a reef in you need to solo. Easier to take one out not only because the mechanics of the process but conditions that require such a move. I left the extra reef in the last four days. It seems to be not only easy on me but does not stress the rigging either. I also left the jib up. Only the second to last day did I feel like I was playing it too chicken but it was relaxing and was not a race anyway. I was able to sail between 4.5 and 6 knots 95% of the time anyway. It one point going down wind in the surf I did hit 7 knots. (this is all according to the Garmin GPS)
The Pocketship performed beautifully ! The more I sail this boat the better I like it. This being my third attempt to do the 200 I was able to not only finish it, unlike the first two attempts, but finish it very comfortably and ready for more.
Video coming soon!
I would wake up in the mornings with the wind aready blowing 10-12 knots and in Texas it usually builds from there. Although it really didn't get too bad I started the day with the second reef in the sail. I was sailing solo and its a real pain to put in a reef in you need to solo. Easier to take one out not only because the mechanics of the process but conditions that require such a move. I left the extra reef in the last four days. It seems to be not only easy on me but does not stress the rigging either. I also left the jib up. Only the second to last day did I feel like I was playing it too chicken but it was relaxing and was not a race anyway. I was able to sail between 4.5 and 6 knots 95% of the time anyway. It one point going down wind in the surf I did hit 7 knots. (this is all according to the Garmin GPS)
The Pocketship performed beautifully ! The more I sail this boat the better I like it. This being my third attempt to do the 200 I was able to not only finish it, unlike the first two attempts, but finish it very comfortably and ready for more.
Video coming soon!