Crazy Horse - Sept.17

Today I thought that I would write a little about types of sails that I have
been talking about recently. Some people who have emailed me have asked me
for some clarification. What makes all the terms we use hard to understand
is that some of us sailors further confuse the issue by interspersing these
types of sails and calling them by different names. So I have taken the
liberty to consult our Basic Sailing book to make sure I don't confuse the
issue further.
When we have been talking about Joshua it is an A (asymmetrical ) sail which
is used to sail at wind angles of 80-130. The tack of sail is held down off
the bowsprit of the boat (front part that sticks out). This sail is not
usually used for direct downwind sailing and doesn't need a pole.
When I talk about the small spinnaker it is the A sail , smaller and used
for the same angles, and less wind is necessary to keep it full.
A straight spinnaker which is the pretty sail you see billowing in front of
the boat is used with a pole and usually direct downwind. We don't have one
of theses.
The code 0 is a specific light air reaching sail used for wind angles of
60-90 maybe to 120 but that is under debate. It is like a big Genoa but made
of lighter material.
All these sails can be wonderful and make you go fast or they can strike
terror and cause major problems for any sailor. People who like living on
the edge sometimes use these sails for excitement when things get dull. This
is a guaranteed surefire way to make things interesting, hellish, or
hairaising.
When I wrote to Jim on Ocean J. about our experience with our new code 0
expecting sympathy he wrote me an even more exciting tale which occurred on
Ocean J.This is the tale I recounted a few days ago when the halyard broke
and our beautiful sail took a back dive into the sea. I admitted that he
won the Fickle Finger of Fate Award for his tale. I will ask his permission
to write his tale in my blog in the future. He is a wonderful writer and
expresses the shear terror better than anyone who has told the tales of the
sailor. These are all good stories that get expounded upon after the trip
and while we are all having a celebratory drink at port. But Jim's is one of
the best. I am sure we will hear it told again as we are having that drink
in Cocos. These sails are probably what drives sailors to drink - come to
think of it.
Well, hope that clears things up. Makes you wonder why any of us use these
sails. Well, if you haven't guessed yet, we are all a little bit crazy.
Rosemary, Bill, and Matt aboard the Crazy Horse