Winter sailors. The illustrated guide to meeting the challenges of the season – Part 1

Techniques, situations, tips for dealing with seasonal challenges illustrated (and skin-tested) by our reporter Erika Baffico.

Tackling the Mediterranean in winter by sailboat is an adventure for those with a passion for unique vistas, the lack of Sunday sailing crowds, but also the icy wind anddampness of rain and sea that seeps into the bones. Indeed, sailing in this season requires constant attention to unstable weather conditions and sudden changes in light, visibility and wind. To help you take to the sea safely and with a smile, I have devised and illustrated for you some brief practical tips (learned and tested on my own skin) for approaching this season with the proper dexterity in sail trim and maneuvering, and for reading natural signs that can prove to be real allies. From the low sun that makes it easier to locate ship points to the turbulence that can indicate a shoal, from the “spannometer” technique for having the jib always well adjusted or for not getting hurt when putting your hand to the winch and spinning the lines. Happy cold weather sailing and let me know how your winter adventures went!

Winter Sailing. White sky

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During rainy winter days, the sky is a uniform white-gray, as soft as a cloth that someone has decided to spread over the sea. Visibility drops, and in an instant you realize that everything, both near and far, dissolves into a uniform shade. Sea and sky become one. In these conditions, an ever-vigilant gaze is required to stay on course.

Fillets & Maninas

A little vademecum for those who want to best optimize the jib shape (and have a sail that is always in good shape): if the inner fillet falls off, imagine a little invisible hand trying to catch the inner air-in this case, you need to reduce the belly of the sail by capping the sheet. Conversely, if the outer fillet falls off, think of a little hand that would like to catch the outer air-this is the time to increase the belly by slightly letting go of the sheet. Yes, these are details, but it is these little “whispers” of sails that make the difference between an efficient course and a slightly “tired” sail.

Low sun

In winter, the sun stays low on the horizon and casts that magical light that makes it feel like you are in a painting. In addition to beauty, this condition makes orientation easier, because the backlighting enhances the contours of coastlines and islands, allowing you to locate ship points more easily. In short, a small reward for those who have decided to venture out to sea despite everything.

Winter sailing. The afternoon darkness

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Winter also brings a little mockery: the sun sets early and we find ourselves in the dark just when we were savoring hours of sailing. And so, entering port becomes one more challenge. Why? Because headlights are often not the brightest spots in sight, club signs and the city itself produce a great deal of light pollution, and getting your bearings can be tricky. Remember: proceed slowly and, just in case, have your flashlight ready….

This is the first part of the Winter Sailors guide. We will publish the second part in the coming days

Who is the author of this guide

Erika Baffico is an avid sailor. based in Milan. He combines his passion for the sea with his work, designing innovative lighting systems that recreate in the interior the changing color of the sky, long observed and admired from the boat(www.fulcrodesign.com).

She started sailing thanks to a course with the Les Glenans in their almost pirate-like bay near Bonifacio, a place reachable only by sea or on foot. Since then, sails have chased her ashore as well, and she has designed collections of bags and backpacks for BolinaSail. Whenever she goes out to sea she has her inseparable sketchpad on which she illustrates her logbooks. She also made this illustrated report on sailing in Brittany for Il Giornale della Vela, and looks forward to drawing more. Follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fulcro.design/!