This was my second shakedown cruse in the last two weeks, and I added my roller reefing poly tarp jib that now makes my total sail area approximately 60 sq ft with the added jib plus the main. I tried it out yesterday in winds ranging from 10 to 20 with gust to 25 mph. I was really happy with the results as compared to the terrible blue poly sail setup I had last year. I put considerable rounding on the leach and foot plus two darts that made a lot of camber belly in the jib. I thought I had too much belly until I tried it out on the water and it seemed just right. I had been concerned about the Folbot ama pontoons digging into waves but found out I had them on backwards. Installed correctly they kept their front nose high out of the water and the harder I pushed the boat the higher the amas lifted the front nose. I tried to see just how far I could drive the ama under water in some strong winds. The ama tilted up about 45 degrees and I drove the back of the ama under water enough to flow water over the aka cross bar, but that still left more then half of the ama pontoon above water. So I feel the Folbot amas are pretty safe and can take a lot.

I was hoping the boat could sail 40 degrees off the wind but it really surprised me. I would bring the boat directly into the wind, check my compass and veer off. I can sail 30 degrees off wind. I checked this several times to allow for wind shift but it was always the same. This has to be the combination of the jib, the foil shaped long leeboard and the large foil shaped rudder.

I had a 4000-acre lake all to myself along with two fishing boats I saw. A special day.

John