South Pacific: Downwind Sailing

This photo shows the boat at a steady 11 - 12 knots sailing downwind in 16 - 18 knots of true wind. The sails are set the same for the last 5 days.

The Main is all the way up and out full to starboard, just touching the upper spreader. It has a preventer from the boom end up to a forward cleat. The staysail is out to starboard to balance the main and to add some extra sail area in the 'slot' between the main and the genoa. The genoa is out to windward held there by the Selden carbon-fiber pole and the sheet lead through the poll end back to the spinnaker winch in the cockpit.

This is a very efficient and safe way to move the boat along downwind keeping the wing 15 - 20 degrees off the stern port side. However you need to be careful that a wave does not spin the boat to windward and 'back' the genoa. That will violently spin the boat more to windward and flog the main.