What sort of weather will see at the Shipwrights’? Who knows. But in case we have a repeat of the boat buster that came up several years ago, here are some thoughts on dealing with a squall when racing from Yachting World.

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Things get complicated when dark clouds build to windward and the horizon looks more like night than day. There’s breeze under squall clouds, but could it herald a major change in the weather? Can you survive with the sailplan or should you change down?

While you may be fine under current conditions, doing nothing risks blowing out sails or could end your race completely. But to change down jibs or drop the spinnaker might lose you the race. It’s a gamble, but delaying the call until the boats around you are on their beam-ends is probably far too late.

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