Cable tie drop

Lia Ditton invents new offshore kite take down in Route du Rhum

A packet of industrial-sized cable ties should be part of every offshore rigging kit. Policemen now use them as a safer alternative to hand-cuffs and there is a reason for this. Good luck getting one undone!

So when my "heavy" 2.2oz spinnaker had a spectacular finale yesterday it was the industrial-sized cable ties that saved the day, or rather saved the sail. In the sequence that I described yesterday, the cause was the sudden acuteness of wind angle created by forward propulsion plus wave rollercoaster that results in a back winding or emptying of the sail. At this point the "heavy" decided to go for a spin around the furled genoa, not a mere once but for a few spins taking in the down pull cord for the snuffer along the way. With a 30 knot warning heading my way by midnight, unlucky was not the word.

Eventually with tack and sheets both freed and some significant slack on the halyard there was no option but to cut both the snuffer up cord and the down pull cord.

Cable-tying every bit of billowing sail within reach, what ensued was a 3 hour may-poling experience to get the blasted thing down. Somewhat demoralizing, the lead slipped away in the process a further 20 miles.

To board or not to board, that has been my question this morning. In all the magazine pictures of the Open 60s, they run with both dagger boards up, while trucking down wind. So here's the situation- I am ripping down waves at 11-13 knots average with a True Wind Angle of 122 degrees. I am suitably canvassed, but not overpowered with 2 reefs in the main and the Solent jib.

The autopilot is on one of its highest- I - know - you - are - going - to - drain - my - batteries - but - please - just - keep - me - on - course levels of response. Yet as each gust and [we are up to 33 in true wind speed] howls through the rigging, the boat wants to round up enough to heat up some more and begin rocketing off on the wrong course.

A bit of lee-board I believe may be the answer, which it was, but why can the 60s get away with a flat belly with no appendages and this baby can't? What am I doing amiss?
My lessons in the treacherous dark art of down wind speed sailing continue...!