Julian Swindell
Username: Julian_swindell
Registered: 03-2007
Posted on Tuesday, July 07, 2009 - 11:42 am:
Hi Martin,
Be cautious. I think the golden rule is not to make significant changes to the designer's critical details, such as ballast ratios. He will have given hours (days) of thought to the correct figures. Don't change them on a whim. If you over ballast you may:
a) sink if you get swamped,
b) Break the rig if you force it to stay more upright in stronger wind than it was designed to take. The major safety feature of gaff rigs is that as they heel they spill wind.
I think you have also fitted a mizzen mast to your boat, which means even with the sails down, you are going to get some increase in weather helm because of the extra windage of the rear mast.
I would always say that if you are getting over powered in a Winkle Brig, get the sails down and head for home! This is not a foul weather, blue water boat.