A cutter rig offers lots of versatility in sail plans. Here she is flying mainsail, cutter staysail and twin headsails – a useful rig in higher winds, it can be shortened down in the event of a squall. But it does take an experienced helmsperson to keep all the sails balanced and flying. Dropping one headsail, leaving only 3 in the air makes a much easier sail plan for reaching.

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Too close to the wind for this much spinnaker, but moving along very nicely with the pole almost on the forestay. Ideally we would run with a smaller chute this close to the wind, or fall off the wind, bring the pole aft, flatten the boat out and speed up.

A go fast crew on a “warm” day 100 miles off the Oregon coast.

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A colder day with the same go fast crew, this time on a cold winter day in the Straits of Georgia. The photographer emphasized the heel of the boat by tilting the camera. This helps with subsequent bragging rights. “AAARRRR let me tell you matey. We was beatin’ to weather in 60 knots o’ wind, rail 2 feet under the water, out o’ food, and water runnin’ low….” Well you get the “picture” – it’s not only fishermen who exaggerate.

Leaving Victoria harbour for the Vic-Maui. (SailingNow Web site – 015)



Off Cape Flattery, enroute to the open Pacific and Maui. (Marie-Claire documents GMA 3)

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2400 miles later, greeted in the dark of night by friends and family in Lahaina, Maui. (SailingNow website -010)


SailingNow web site -009)

You might not aspire to make such a long trip but I can teach you the necessary skills to sail where you choose.

Maybe you just want to get as far as anchoring at Sydney Spit. (That’s the one near Victoria, not Australia.)

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