Posted by Joel Silverberg on November 10, 2004 at 21:28:02 from 24.250.20.113 user joels.
In Reply to: Re: 'Bent on' posted by Peter H on November 10, 2004 at 17:37:03:
There are many ways to reduce the power of the mailsail to drive the boat.
They including reefing and letting the mainsheet out so the main luffs as
previously suggested. Depending on the rigging of the boat, they can also
include a variety of ways to flatten the sail -- tightening the cunningham or downhaul at the tack of the main, tightening the outhaul at the clew, and tightening the backstay to bring bend the mast aft. Another way is to ease the traveler to leeward. I suppose you could motor into the wind and pull the mainsheet taught to bring the sail flat and amidships, but if the wind blew the bow off to the side, you might find yourself on your ear. Since I'm not familiar with the context of the quote (what type of boat, etc?) I'm just guessing at possiblities.