Gybing a spinnaker: shifting sides when the wind direction changes
When the wind shifts from directly astern to coming slightly off one side, the spinnaker needs to move to the other side of the boat. On this passage the wind had been nearly dead behind before shifting from port to starboard, requiring a quick side change. Lauren notes she had never done that particular maneuver before and found it pretty easy. Staying attentive to subtle wind angle shifts and acting on them promptly keeps the spinnaker drawing efficiently and reduces the risk of an accidental collapse or wrap.
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Drone battery and altitude management during an extended wildlife search
During a wildlife search flight, Lauren Landers Sailing keeps an eye on both altitude and battery level simultaneously. At 40 metres (about 120 to 130 feet) the drone still provides a useful overview, but for spotting smaller species like b
What it feels like to transit an atoll for the first time without it being too sketchy
After completing the pass entry, Lauren reflects that the conditions were relatively flat, which made for a good first experience. The key takeaway is that if the waves had been bigger, waiting for them to settle would have been the right c
A jib car block sheared off but the car itself stayed on the track
During the same passage, the pulley block on one of the jib sheet cars sheared off, leaving the car itself still on the deck track. Lauren noted this was not a critical problem: she has spare blocks on board that would work as a replacement