Mariquita Book - mk2

Putting up the wrong sail can
completely finish your day. We got
caught out with wind on this dog
leg just before rounding the last
mark into the finish. We had 25
knots of wind with the jackyard
up. We were on our ear.
George Newman
Peter Mumford ~ Beken of Cowes
Technical Note
On Mariquita, the big decision every morning on the aft deck is which sails to hoist? In order to succeed,
Mariquita needs power allied to balance, so the decision, based on the weather forecasting and the state
of the regatta, is key. Unfortunately once racing is underway, two of the options are irreversible: first, the
option of reefing the mainsail and second, to either hoist or lower the jackyard. The jackyard is the largest
topsail available to Mariquita and is hoisted with two large extra spars, which effectively extend the mast
and the gaff. It offers a tempting and large increase in sail area. However, with extra weight and sail area so
high up it can render the yacht out of control if set in too much wind. In the first race of the Fleet Review
an unexpectedly strong sea breeze finished Mariquita’s race. Probably driven by a ‘perfect storm’ of upper
atmospheric wind strength and direction, combined with cold water and potent early summer sun, the wind
increased to well over 20 knots. This photograph shows Mariquita right on the limit as she heads westwards
back down the Solent towards the top mark. Within minutes she was overpowered and unable to bear away.
David Bedford
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