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Attwood 14191-7 Clamp-On Portable Marine Boat Navigation Light Kit, Camouflage
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Shangyuan Boat Navigation Lights, Stern Lights for Boats, Marine Led Strip Lights for Boat Lights Bow and Stern, Navigation Lights for Boats Led, Kayak Lights, Port Starboard Light DC 12V 2PCS
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Shoreline Marine All-Round Fold Down Stern Light, 12-Inch
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Pactrade Marine LED All-Round Long Stern Light Plugin Aluminum Pole, 24" L
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Obcursco 12 Inch LED Boat Bow Navigation Light Kits for Marine Boat Vessel Pontoon Yacht Skeeter – 1 Pair
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Five Oceans Stainless Steel Flush Mount LED Navigation Side Lights, 12V FO-3840
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LEANINGTECH Boat Marine LED Navigation Lights Marine Navigation Lamp, Red and Green LED for Boat Pontoon Yacht Skeeter …
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Obcursco LED Boat Navigation Lights, Boat Bow Light，Marine Boat Navigation lamp. Perfect for Pontoon, Skeeter, Power Boat and Skiff
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Obcursco Boat Navigation Light, Marine LED Navigation Light, Boat LED Bow Light. Ideal for Pontoon, Skiff, and Small Boat
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Obcursco LED Navigation Lights Deck Mount, New Marine Sailing Lights for Bow Side,Port, Starboard, Pontoons, Chandlery Boat, Yacht, Skeeter, DC 12V
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Obcursco LED Navigation Lights Deck Mount, New Marine Sailing Lights for Bow Side,Port, Starboard, Pontoons, Chandlery Boat, Yacht, Skeeter, DC 12V (Stainless Steel 02)
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Acelane Boat LED Navigation Lights Marine Red & Green Sidelights Sailing Signal Lights Stainless Steel 12V IP65 Waterproof Boating Fishing Yacht Pontoons Chandlery Boat Skeeter
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Out Chasing Stars Blog
When we wrote our first sail trim for a cruising catamaran blog post, we were just about to move aboard Starry Horizons for our circumnavigation. We’d been sailing a 30-foot Maine Cat around Galveston Bay, getting some sailing experience under our belts. Starry Horizons is a pretty big leap, and we’ve learned a lot about sail handling since then. There are two advanced sailing techniques that we’ve found very helpful when sailing deep downwind. Flying Headsails off the Windward BowOur screecher is our favorite sail to use. It’s huge and when the wind is just right (like on the beam) we really get flying. The screecher is best used with an AWS of fewer than 15 knots, with an apparent wind angle (AWA) of fewer than 135 degrees.We have sailed several times with the tack of our screecher (or spinnaker) attached to the windward bow of the boat instead of being attached to the bowsprit. This allows us to sail at a deeper downwind angle (135 – 160). Instead of approximately 12 lateral feet between the tack and the clew (half the width of the boat), we are now using the full width of the boat to open the headsail even wider.While the sail is still furled, we use a soft shackle to attach a low friction ring to the bow cleat. Through the low friction ring, we run a new tack line. The bitter end of the tack line goes through the clutch on the toe rail. We loosen the clutch on the bowsprit to free the normal tack line. We detach it and pull the tack of the sail over to the new tack line. You can keep both tack lines attached for added control. This allows you to adjust the position of the tack: to the low friction ring at the bow, to the bowsprit, or somewhere in between.Wing-on-Wind with Dual HeadsailsWe have sailed several times, especially on our Atlantic crossing, with our headsail and mainsail set to a wing-on-wing configuration. It works, but can be troublesome depending on how light the wind is or how much the swell conditions are knocking the boat around.Instead, we’ve flown wing-on-wing with both our screecher and genoa out. The two sails combine to create one giant sail, and the wind funnels from one sail to another. This is much more forgiving than sailing wing on wing with the headsail and mainsail.Wing-on-wing in the Pacific Ocean.Wing-on-wing with two headsails. Gorgeous!The tack of the dual headsail set up.Downwind Sailing in Higher WindsAs the screecher is not a sail that you can furl, when the apparent wind speed is higher than 15 knots, we sail wing on wing with the genoa and mainsail. You can reef both sails as the wind picks up.Monohull NotesAs you may know, David and I don’t have much experience on monohulls at all. From what we gather, monohulls are not as comfortable downwave as catamarans are. This is a plus for sailing catamarans on a downwind circumnavigation. However, when they do go downwind, we have several friend boats who sail wing on wing with the two headsails. Putting poles on the clew of the sail to spread them out would be required.Other AdviceWhen sailing with finicky sail configurations like the ones above, be sure to put your autopilot on wind vane mode and set the wind angle as a priority. That way, if the wind shifts, your autopilot will adjust the boat to have the sails properly filled. If you are running on a heading or a track when the wind shifts, you might find your sails backwinded or do an accidental gibe (which is dangerous). Being on the wind vane setting does mean that you need to pay extra attention to your course; if the wind shifts, you may have to switch t another downwind sail tactic.What have you found that works best for you while downwind sailing?Pin it!
Boating and Sailing
Jobbie Crew Stuff
The Jobbie Crew is dedicated to everyone coming home alive, every time. Starting this year we are going to start our own safety series includi
ng a way
Paddle On
Ultimate Boat Parties Ideas
So if you are looking to enjoy your time with some friends you might want to equip your boat with some LED lights to bring the party atmosphere.
Products
LightArmor Bi-Color Navigation Pole Light – Angled – 10\
Bass boat accessories
Red, Green, and White LED Strips for Bass boats These strips can be customized and cut to fit any application; can be cut at every 3 LED lengths 1 each 12 2 each 12 Each of our strips includes 12 inches of 22 gauge lead wire and high quality 3M double stick strip backing for easy mounting for your application. We also recommend using additional waterproof marine adhesive for added strength and durability. Great for Bass, Pontoon, and Ski Boats, Kayaks and Jon Boats. Easy to install, long lasting LED’s rated at 50,000 hours with very low current draw on your battery. Each strip is completely waterproof; encased in silicon with an IP66 rating