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Purrr-fect - Leg Two- dsy 7: Steady sailing rig



At first light this morning, we gibed our double headsail rig to stay closer to the great circle route course. The wind had shifted about 25 degrees earlier so we decided to do all the work to gibe. This involves all 3 of us to do it best. First we furl in the jib and leave the whisker pole up. Next we drop the loose footed jib and rerun all 4 of the lines to the other side of the boat. Next we move the whisker pole to the other side of the boat by lowering and moving the topping lift, and finally connecting new lines for after and fore guys The sheets (both inboard and outboard) lines to the furling jib are run next, and the outboard one is run through the end of the whisker pole. Finally we hoist the loose footed jib and unfurl the furling jib. And we have a steady sail configuration which is fairly forgiving for minor wind shifts. Without the main sail, there is a lot less banging and flopping of sails. Sound like a lot of work on a rocking pitching boat? It is, which is why we don't do it often unless we have to for major wind shifts. Now it is 4 am and we have had this same sail plan up since our gibe early this morning. We were thinking this afternoon about the sailors in the time of Columbus on this route climbing up the mast and out onto the yard arms to furl and unfurl heavy canvas sails. Guess we don't have it so hard.

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