On 24 March 2019 at 06:52 Danny and Yvonne SIMMS <simms@...> wrote:

Hi Pat,

you can get 15 to 20 degrees either side. 20 can be tricky and you need to play with sheet tensions. The Amel owners manual say reef if the true wind gets above 20 knots at which time the apparent would be 10 to 12 as you would be exceeding 8 knots and over 10 at times. If the wind does shift on you on a long passage, just go with it for some hours, it is quite likely to change back again and the deviation from the rhumb line wont cost you much in time.And if it doesn't change back you will have got yourself on to a good reach as you come back up on course. win win.  Another tip. If you get a sudden change that brings you on to a reach you can just drop the windward sail across to lie inside the other. You can carry on like that for some time. Another tip. The swivel at the top of the fore stay has a small locating tongue going into the track. This has a habit of wearing through. Without it it is near impossible to get the latch to hold the ballooner up. We are enjoying your face book posts

Kind Regards

Danny

SM 299

Ocean Pearl

On 24 March 2019 at 00:26 "Patrick McAneny via Groups.Io" <sailw32@...> wrote:

I have never had an opportunity to sail down wind using the ballooner other than a couple of short hops years ago. I may have an opportunity to use it between the BVIs and Bahamas. A couple of questions . How many degrees either side of downwind can you sail with the ballooner and at what apparent wind would you begin to reef sails ?
Thanks ,
Pat
SM Shenanigans
Virgin Gorda,BVI