Sailing Miragevideo
We've tested our downwind sails - the Code 0 and a mighty Gennaker. Part 2.
27 September 2023 · 6 min · 4K views
What this video covers
The Mirage crew tests two downwind sails — a Code 0 and a gennaker — in conditions where the wind has risen to 24 knots.0:05 The gennaker deployment goes wrong: the sail was not twisted tightly enough along its luff, and when the strong wind caught it, the top and bottom sections opened while the center remained furled, causing the gennaker to unfurl unevenly and out of shape.5:58 The crew describes it as an "exciting moment" and notes their previous boat never used a gennaker.6:14 The incident points to a specific rigging error — insufficient twist in the furling before hoisting — as the cause of the misshapen deployment.5:58 The Code 0 is also mentioned as part of the downwind sail trials, though the video focuses primarily on the gennaker failure. The practical lesson: in strong wind, the gennaker furling must be wound tightly and evenly before hoisting, or the sail will open at the wrong points and lose control.5:58
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