T&T: Steadying sails - downwind

[Truelove39 at aol.com]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the benefits of a said  downwind. The PO 
had this small (I'm guessing 75 sq ft) sail installed when  he bought the boat 
but "I only used it once." However, when we tried it off the  wind we easily 
picked up a half-knot in 15 knots of breeze. That's enough to  offset the drag 
from the paravanes - worth a half-gallon an hour. That's pretty  substantial. 
Because most of our superstructure is abaft the beam, there's  no need to 
deploy the sail to keep from weathervaning at anchor - the boat is  docile on the 
hook.
 
Regards,
 
John
"Seahorse"
Cape May anchorage



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