DROGUES ETC

As we had rocked and rolled on the swell at anchor at Panjon, we deployed the drogue over the side which acted as a very effective damper and made things very comfortable. That is the blue thing in the photos. Its main purpose is to be streamed out the back end in heavy weather to slow us down if we are surfing in a gale, but is has other uses including this one. It basically like a large vented bucket, and is extremely effective. It can even be used for emergency steering. Australian so it must be good!
The pole sticking out is one of the two poles we use to hold the front sails out when we are going downwind, but it too has a number of uses, the main one of which is getting the dinghy in – pictures supplied too. It doesn’t take very long at all to get it in and out, and it is light enough for the two of us to sort out without straining anything. We are most pleased with this new acquisition, much easier to handle than the rubber duck, and easier to deploy too.