Sailing Techniques Archives | Page 2 of 8

Ocean Passage Engineering: Systems Analysis and Arrival Planning 40 Miles Offshore

Topic: 40 miles from the Azores after a 14-day Atlantic crossing, we handle mid-ocean gear failure while planning our next jib sheeting system upgrade. This professional analysis covers block replacement, floating ring technology, and track system design for optimal sail control, demonstrating how continuous improvement integrates with routine offshore sailing. We combine practical repair work with […]

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30-Knot Atlantic Sailing: Performance Analysis and 17-Knot Surf

Topic: Author: Shayne and Anna Introduction The midpoint of an Atlantic crossing often brings the most challenging conditions, and our passage to the Azores delivered 30-knot winds and building seas. These conditions provided the ultimate test of Paikea’s heavy-air capabilities and our family’s offshore systems, from spinnaker management to performance diagnostics in demanding ocean conditions. 1.

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How We Reef Our Mainsail Sailing Downwind

How We Reef Our Mainsail Sailing Downwind Reefing downwind has a reputation for being awkward, and on a lot of boats, it genuinely is. Paikea adds a few of her own complications to that reputation — a mainsail halyard lock, a sticky spot in the mast track from a locking mechanism that was filed in

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Fast in Light Airs: Caribbean to the Azores

Fast in Light Airs: Caribbean to the Azores Some passages start with drama. This one started with a countdown, a somewhat vague sense of “not the Caribbean,” and a weather picture that was changing daily enough that the plan was simply to leave and see what showed up. Saturday, June 3rd, departure finally locked in,

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Sidestays vs. Capsize: Debunking a Dangerous Myth in Catamaran Sailing

Key Message: This post tackles a pervasive myth in catamaran sailing: that sidestays should be designed to break before a hull flies. We explain the flawed logic, the physics of righting moment, and why the sailor’s awareness is the most critical safety system on the water. Author: Shayne and Anna A dangerous piece of advice often

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How to Trim the Jib Upwind on a Catamaran

How to Trim the Jib Upwind on a Catamaran Most people’s relationship with a jib sheet starts and ends with a winch handle — pull it on when you head up, ease it off when you bear away. That gets you moving, but it’s a long way from actually trimming a sail well. Getting real

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