Rookie Sailing at Linda Mar - 12/9

What’s the best wind speed to take out an AI for beginners? And does it matter a lot where the wind is coming from?

Yeh I just got an AI last week. Was not planning on it but couldn’t pass up deal.

What’s the best wind speed to take out an AI for beginners? And does it matter a lot where the wind is coming from?

Yeh I just got an AI last week. Was not planning on it but couldn’t pass up deal.

This is loaded with tons of great info on sailing the AI:
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=39153.0

I'm not a sailing expert, but I'd recommend some gentle wind speeds to start, like maybe 6 to 8 knots. Less than that and you won't get anywhere, while a little more is OK, as you can always reef the sail. But, what you really want to avoid is gusty winds, as that makes everything a lot more difficult.

As for the wind direction, you don't want to have to go directly into the wind, as you'll have to tack and it can be hard to make any headway. Ironically, going directly downwind is not too easy either. Ideally, I'd want the wind at about 90 degrees both coming and going...