5 Words. Set yourself up for success.
All the posts about "putting a reef in" and "bring a buddy" and "main only..."
These are all different safety positions in order to take some of the variability out of the day.
In light wind, when you make a mistake, you can often catch it before it develops, and if you don't catch it, you may not necessarily pay a consequence for it. I like 5-10 for trying out a new piece of equipment, training a new crew member, or testing a new maneuver. I just got done with the Chicago Yacht ClubRace to Mac. We had a storm come up on us that took 30 minutes to develop and loaded us with 50 minutes of sustained winds at 50 knots and 10 minutes of sustained winds at 75-100 knots. I was saying my prayers.
http://www.sail-world.com/USA/Chicago-M ... lock/86145
Point is, ratchet down as many variables as you can. You never know what may surprise you. Some sail for the thrill. Some to relax. Either way, its not fun if it is more than you or your boat can handle.
My 26s is a whole other boat in heavy wind than it is in light wind. She really likes 10-15. I did a race in 25. No reef. I was way overpowered. I could have actually gone faster if I had reefed. But we were just having a blast. The windows needed washing anyway. The next week, I lost the boom on a jibe. I had loosened the rivets in the heavy air.
Stuff happens to guys at all levels of experience. I was lucky.
Set yourself up for success. Do that, and you'll be ready for anything that rolls your way.
