End Plates

End Plates

Back in my windsurfing days, closing the gap between the sail and the board was like shifting gears. Technically, it creates an end plate and stops the wind and any associated vortices from flowing from the lee side of the sail to windward and vice versa. Deck-sweeping genoas take advantage of this same principle.

Here, I give you the Randall Reef. So named in honour of the first person I know to have dreamt it up. While following Randall Reeve’s extraordinary Figure 8 Voyages, I saw him bust this out while sailing in similar conditions. Whether or not it’s end-plating the main, I cannot say. The technical side of me would like to think so. Regardless, the boat likes it and I think the name is perfect. I hope it catches on.

Follow my tracks in real-time:
https://bit.ly/svseaburban