We have a symmetric spinnaker which we fly as though it were an asymmetric and mizzen staysail (mini-spinnaker) and once managed a screaming reach of up to 10 knots off the south shore of Lake Ontario with four sails. I was fully engaged in sail handling and Janet at the helm was screaming like a school girl with excitement. Because the wind was from shore, there was little wave action. But after two serious bow down lurches to leeward, I judged we were carrying too much sail. I doused the spinnaker first with its sock and then the staysail. The sock works fine. We use a luff line through a block at the end of the anchor sprit back to the cockpit and Janet or other crew eases both sheet and luff line as I pull down the sock.

How did we get started on this reach? The wind was very light as we left Rochester headed towards Oswego. We put up all four sails. Once they were up, we kept going as the wind increased, taking turns at the wheel for a while. At first we were doing 3-4 knots, then hull speed. And then more.

Norris & Janet Larson, Easy Reach, #203.

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