Bimini in heavy weather

[DaveC426913]

In winds near 15knots, even reefed, my wants to round up. I keep the main sheet in my hand and ease it as-needed to keep from rounding up. But of course then I don't point well, and beating upwind is virtually fruitless (I have a no-sail about 140 degrees wide in that configuration).

So I've been trying to see if collapsing my giant scoop of a bimini will have a p ostive effect of rounding up less. Does any one else do this?

[Herschel]

No, I haven't folded the Bimini in that kind of wind. I do reef fairly readily, especially the main. With the 110 jib on a furler, I try to keep the sail plan balanced with how much it is furled. My Bimini does fit under the boom, so it may not have the sail properties of a higher one. With Central Florida heat/sun, I keep both the Bimini and the dodger deployed in the warmer months. All of that said, I am rarely trying to get somewhere specific upwind. So efficiency to windward is not one of my priorities. The pic with my brother (I am the handsome one ) shows the height of my Bimini. The other pics just show the boat in strong winds, reefed.

[dustoff]

I have the BWYachts bimini and dodger, (along with the full enclosure). I usually sail with the bimini deployed, but not the rest. I have only noticed a very slight difference in sail performance with the bimini deployed at any point of sail.
That being said, at 15 knots with full sails my M would take a lot of work and concentration to keep on course and maintaining good control. And I have a high performance main and 110 jib that have low sailing miles on them (also from BWYachts).
I usually start reefing both main and jib at 10 knots (when you start to see whitecaps). At 15 knots, on anything other than downwind, I would be on the second main reef and 30-40% of the jib reefed on the furler.
MacGregors are squirrelly and tender to sail in high winds because they are lightweight, use water ballast, and have high freeboard.
Still love my M though
Dustoff

[Russ]

I don't think my bimini has much effect on the point of sailing. Of course I usually raise the iron genny when the wind gets too high.

[dustoff]

The more likely culprit on rounding up in medium winds is stretched out (i.e. blown) sails combined with 'possible' application of the wrong trim controls on the sails for the conditions.

[Highlander]

I don't think my bimini has much effect on the point of sailing. Of course I usually raise the iron genny when the wind gets too high.

Russ,
I think u mean lower "the Iron Genny" unless u r running an air foil Prop instead of an water foil prop off ur O/B

J

[Russ]

Russ,
I think u mean lower "the Iron Genny" unless u r running an air foil Prop instead of an water foil prop off ur O/B

J

Yea...I guess it is lowering it.

I just don't enjoy when the wind is howling and whips up the seas. That's one of the reasons I bought the Mac. The idea that if the weather turns bad, I can get out of it quickly.