Aug 17, 2026

Yep, lowering the mainsail killed the boat speed while heaving to.

More things I learned:

• Tie five butterfly knots every foot or so to make a short rope ladder.

• Hang it from a whinch or cleat to climb aboard from water.

• Let a long end drift behind the boat.

• It’s okay to go for a swim while heaving to if you can climb back.

• Even when single-handing.

• If you stare at windex long enough, you learn how the wind feels on your face.

• Then you can sail without looking at windex.

• If you listen to the sails long enough, you don’t need to look at them.

• It’s okay to sail at night if you know the area, can go without windex, and know how sails sound.

• Garmin Navionics is helpful too.

• When keeping bearing using compass, turn tiller towards the azimuth you want to be on.

• When running turn tiller towards the sail that luffs.

• Foilers love to catch motorboat wakes. Some people run the boats just to give them a ride.

• Wakes kill the sailboat speed though.

• Don’t try to tack over a wake.