Parachutes for headsails.

Hi All,

We are new on the site so please be patient if we don't get it right the first time.

Recently we had some very light southerly winds and a few days later I was chatting to a cat owner at an anchorage who was bemoaning the fact that a conventional yacht had passed him in the light southerlies that was flying a military style parachute instead of conventional headsails.

The cat owner said that the winds were light enough that he had trouble keeping his twin poled out haidsails flying but that the keelboat seemed to have no problems keeping the parachute flying.

I have tried looking for information on the net about flying parachutes as headsails and although there are some nicely positive comments there is generally very little information.

Has anybody on this site had any experience with this or seen it in practice.

I don't mean to be rude here but I am NOT asking for personal opinions, either for or against, just honest thoughts from anyone who has seen or participated in this sort of sailing.

From what I have seen so far it is something I would like to try out so I am really after practical experiences.

For those that have not heard of it, it is something worth Googling.

Thanks, in advance.

Hi Twodogs,

Thanks for that.

I have been following this couple. They seem to think it's a good thing.

I think I have found most of the links on the .net. There doesn't seem to be to many of them.

Used chutes are quite cheap to buy (you have to make sure they still have the lines attached) and from what I have read the chutes are relatively easy to fly.

I am still looking for information on how to rig one and some practical anecdotes.

I know the basics of rigging and setting up but would like to hear from someone with experience.

Thamks again

This vid was posted 7 years ago. It is nothing new. Bulk carriers are using kites for auxiliary power and achieving up to 30% fuek savings.

I have no experience with these. In recent threads about parachutes used by entrants in the last ARC on the PBO forums sizing seems to be important. Most people seemed to think they would have been better off with a smaller version. Naturally I can not find the link now.
This article was in a recent magazine my son buys.


www.yachtingworld.com/features/what-downwind-sails-should-you-have-for-an-atlantic-crossing-67425