Sails: Our New Code Zero!

This week we took possession of our new Code Zero sail from UK Sailmakers in Sidney, BC. It is our third new sail–hopefully the last one for a while. This sail brings us another step closer to realizing our dream of sailing south. If it wasn’t for Covid we’d be ready to leave in the fall.

I’ve been asked why we have so many sails on board and why we bought a Code Zero. We need a variety of sails in order to match the conditions we encounter when sailing. As wind speed and direction change, we need to match the right sail combinations to the conditions. If we have too much sail up, we will be overpowered and the boat will be very uncomfortable to live on or things may break. Too little sail and we will bob around like a cork which is also uncomfortable. We are constantly adjusting our sails and the combination of sails so that we sail efficiently and comfortably. It’s a bit like driving a car.

When driving one uses the accelerator to adjust the car’s speed to match the road conditions. One doesn’t drive the same on a narrow wet road as one does on a dry multi-lane freeway–at least one shouldn’t! One adjusts one’s speed to match the conditions. It’s similar when sailing.

On a boat, the sails are like the accelerator. We have to match the size and type of sail to match the wind and sea conditions. If the winds are strong, we put up less sail area. If we are heading towards the wind, we use a different combination of sails than if we are heading away from the wind. If the seas are rough, we slow the boat down a little by putting up less sail. By doing this we don’t bang into the waves as hard.

Our new Code Zero will be our sail for going away from the wind–down wind or off the wind–and our choice for going upwind when the wind is light. It is made from strong light material. Everyone worries about sailing during storms but most of the time we are sailing in light winds and need a way to get the boat moving without using the engine. The Code Zero will help with this.

We look forward to trying the Code Zero in a variety of conditions this summer. We’ll let you know how it goes!