Patrick Lainevideo
Ep 61 Sailing Solo to Iceland fm Ireland
May 2, 2023 · 21 min · 59K views · Blasket Sound
What this video covers
A solo sailor transiting from Ireland to Iceland in a 29-foot sailboat manages heavy weather and light-wind sail configurations during the North Atlantic passage. To optimize light-wind performance, the sailor deploys an asymmetric spinnaker using a top-down furler, hoisting it outside the furled 115% genoa to prevent fouling.2:48 The setup increases speed from 4.9 to 6.5 knots in 12 knots of true wind.11:19 When encountering 25-to-35-knot winds and three-to-four-meter seas, the sailor drops the mainsail entirely to reduce heel, opting to run downwind under a partially furled genoa.14:42 During the transit, the mainsail breaks free from its lazy bag in 34-knot winds, requiring the sailor to tether in and secure the sail with ties.18:34 The passage concludes with an arrival in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, in 23-knot winds.20:31 The sailor identifies 38 to 42 feet as the ideal length for solo blue-water cruising, citing the balance between motion comfort in heavy seas and ease of docking.16:48
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