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Solo Sail Down East Coast Australia- Little Wing West Sail 32 -Part 5
1 March 2023 · 13 min · 3K views · Australia
What this video covers
A West Sail 32 departs Pancake Creek, Queensland, at first light, sailing south under a symmetrical spinnaker.1:13 The solo sailor experiences light winds initially, followed by a build in pressure that allows for speeds of five to six knots.2:56 A one-meter easterly swell creates a comfortable motion until the head of the spinnaker rips, causing the sail to fall into the water.6:07 After retrieving the damaged sail, the sailor rigs a Yankee, a staysail, and a reefed mainsail to maintain balance on the tiller.6:55 The vessel transitions from an autopilot setup to a wind vane, which provides superior course stability in the shifting wind and swell conditions.8:19 The wind vane maintains a course within five degrees of the target, whereas the autopilot struggled with a 10 to 15-degree variance and slow reaction times.8:56 The sailor concludes that while an autopilot serves as a useful, low-cost compromise, a wind vane offers better performance and immediate response in active sea states.9:31
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