Conference unifix::sailing

>    My wife just bought a 10' Nautilus sailing dinghy.  
    
>    How does one handle a rig like this when the wind comes up suddenly?
 
So why would you be out in any breeze in a 10 ft dinghy? Something that
small should be kept close to shore at all times. It is too easy to swamp.
It is not like a sailboard or catamaran that is sealed up with positive
floatation.

    One could alway detune the mainsheet and try to keep it as pointed
into the weather as possible. Failing that, one could take a knife and
cut the sail around the mast and take a hugh hunk out of the main. It
could always be restitched by a sailmaker. The trick is to survive.

   One could pull the pin for the forstay and drop the mast down and wait
for someone to come looking for you.   

john

    Worse yet, it's an unstayed mast that plugs into a socket.  

    Take sailing lessons.
    
    Sit on the high side and adjust the sheet and tiller to go in the
    desired direction without excessive heeling.  Tighten, don't loosen the
    outhaul on the sail to flatten it out.  The flatter it is, the less it
    flaps and the less likely it will hit something.  Ease the sheet when
    a puff hits or the heeling become uncomfortable.  It is possible to sit
    there with the sail luffing in very high winds with the boat upright
    going slowly sideways.  Just skull with the rudder to keep the wind
    forward of the beam.  If the wind comes from behind, pull the sheet in
    to minimize the amount of sail exposed to the wind and thereby reduce
    speed.
    
    If you take the sail down, the only way you can go is downwind which
    may not be where you want to be.  Even if you have oars, it's much
    easier to sail upwind than to row, especially in a stiff breeze.
    
    If it feels like the world is ending, head the boat into the wind, trim
    the mainsheet carefully to bring the boom inboard, untie the outhaul,
    reomve the boom, and roll up the sail on the mast like a window shade. 
    Then secure it with whatever line is available or just pull the whole
    mast out and lay it down in the boat.  Once the sail is down, you'll
    have to rely on whatever alternate means of propulsion you have at your
    diposal.  Oars or, perhaps, rowing with the centerboard.
    
    Lasers and some other small boats use a sleeved sail.  On a Laser, if
    you get tired of repeated capsizes, untie everything, remove the mast,
    (while capsized) right the hull, gather everything on board, flop down
    on your belly and swim the boat to shore with your hands.  But if it's
    really windy, your hands while get tired before long.  At that point,
    panic and scream for help.  After you've been rescued, sign up for
    sailing lessons. 
    
    - gene 

    Gene and others, thank you.  J

On the assumption the mast is probably only about 12' long, I'd be sure 
there were some easy holds on the mast just above the partners, and simply 
lift the whole rig out -- adrenalin will overcome a lot of friction if 
you're really concerned!  Make sure you're stable and lifejacketed, and 
that any crew further aft are alert aloft as you make your move.

Then pull out the oars you stowed, and head for the best downwind
destination you can find.  Heck, with all that adrenalin pumping, you
might be able to even do some upwind or cross-wind work. 

And practice in winds less-than-worrisome are few times.

J.