6/16 Whirlpool Rapids 漩渦急流

We took Whirlpool Rapids entirely under sail.

This tidal pass may be fearsomely named, but it's actually wide and easily passed, the perfect tidal race to take under sail. We took it to windward, and despite the challenges of working upwind, in many ways it's my favorite point of sail for transiting tidal rapids. If something goes wrong, turning downwind and running can get us out of trouble.

One key discovery I made transiting Okisollo an Whirlpool rapids is that the wind pressure in the sails makes steering through turbulent waters much easier than motoring through. With the sails powered up, it is much harder for the water to turn the boat suddenly to a new angle.


（翻譯）

我們完全以風帆通過「漩渦急流」。

這個急流可能名過其實，急流本身寬廣，容易通過，絕佳以風帆航行通過的急流之選。我們順風而行。雖然逆風前進具有更大挑戰，綜觀許多方面，我仍偏愛能夠逆風行駛過急流。若有任何不對頭，順風一轉就可以脫離險境。

在Okisollo和漩渦急流的經驗中我有關鍵性的發現：風帆受風反而讓通過不穩定水流比起以引擎前進來的平穩。風帆吃足了風反而不易讓水流輕易的將船突然轉向。