Wild 17.8-Knot Sled Ride Ends with a Torn Spinnaker

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Key Message: A four-hour deadline to cross Antigua for a birthday party turned into a wild downwind sled ride for our family. Pushing our catamaran, Paikea, in fresh trade winds, we hit 17.8 knots while battling a major handicap: sailing with only one rudder. The thrilling speed came at a cost, as a bad gybe in challenging conditions tore our beloved fractional spinnaker, “Frankie,” in half—a stark reminder of the fine line between high-performance sailing and equipment failure.

Author: Shayne and Anna

When you live on a performance catamaran, a 14-mile downwind dash to a birthday party isn’t just a trip—it’s an opportunity for a full-throttle sail. With a 4-hour deadline to reach the other side of Antigua, we left Green Island bound for Jolly Harbour, ready to send it in the fresh trade winds.

The mission was simple: get the crew to the party on time. The execution, however, was a masterclass in managing a compromised boat at high speed, which ultimately culminated in the loss of a beloved sail.

The Pre-Departure Brief: A Family Affair

The Youngbarnacles family working together to hoist the mainsail on their catamaran, Paikea, in Antigua.

The journey started with the whole crew involved. The kids helped rig the sheets and blocks for our fractional asymmetric spinnaker, “Frankie,” while we plotted the course. The forecast promised a solid 18-22 knots, setting the stage for a fast, wet, and exciting ride.

Preparing the fractional spinnaker “Frankie” on the trampoline of a performance catamaran.

The Core Challenge: Sailing with One Rudder

The dominant factor of the entire trip was a pre-existing condition: we are still sailing with only one rudder after losing the port one mid-Atlantic. With the starboard rudder being the only one in the water and on the windward side, it was susceptible to cavitation—sucking air down from the surface and losing its grip.

This meant the helm was a constant, physical fight. The autopilot (“Steve”) was disengaged, and Shayne was on hand-steering duty for the entire passage, constantly correcting to prevent a high-speed wipeout.

The Ride: High Speed and High Pucker

Once we rounded the headland and set Frankie, Paikea took off. The boat was skittish, but the speed was exhilarating. We saw a top speed of 17.8 knots, surfing down waves in the Caribbean swell. The sense of speed was palpable, and the focus in the cockpit was intense.

The Casualty: Frankie’s Last Gybe

Pushing hard in tricky conditions always carries risk. During a gybe in lumpy seas, the spinnaker wrapped and then loaded up incorrectly. The result was a loud tear, and our favorite kite was ripped in half.

The crew’s response was swift and professional—the remains of the sail were recovered without going overboard. The tally of broken equipment on this refit cruise continues to grow, but as the saying goes, “cruising is just fixing boats in exotic locations.”

Catana 42 catamaran Paikea sailing at high speed under a bright fractional spinnaker in the Caribbean. The arrow shows where Frankie begins to rip.

Mission Accomplished, Lessons Learned

We arrived in Jolly Harbour with a story to tell. The 14-mile passage was completed in just under 3 hours, with an average speed of 8.3 knots including the sail handling. We made it to the party, a little adrenaline-fueled, but on time.

This sail was a perfect, if costly, example of the trade-offs in performance sailing: incredible speed and unforgettable family moments, balanced against the very real risk of equipment failure when you push the limits.

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