Wind Hippie Sailingvideo
E49: Pt 4 Hank On Headsail Changes at Sea, More Headwinds
October 5, 2020 · 15 min · 54K views · Pacific Ocean
What this video covers
A solo sailor on a 27-foot sloop performs a headsail change from a large genoa to a working jib while navigating heavy headwinds and squalls during a passage from Panama to French Polynesia.1:42 To execute the change, the sailor leads the halyard aft, pinches the boat into the wind, and lowers the sail before moving to the foredeck to flake it.4:07 A stuck shackle pin on the bow requires the use of a wrench, prompting the sailor to replace the hardware with a screw-pin shackle for easier future maintenance.5:20 After hoisting the smaller jib, the sailor swaps the wind vane paddle for a smaller, more robust version better suited for high-wind conditions.7:13 The transition to the smaller headsail reduces the boat's violent motion and improves speed by allowing the vessel to slalom over waves rather than slamming into them.9:53 Proactive sail reduction before conditions worsen prevents the need for more difficult changes during nighttime squalls.12:03
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