We’re told open roadsteads, with bouncy sea-states, are not unusual from here on out. For most yachts it can get down right uncomfortable when the wind is at right angles to the chop. Wind Horse is very stable with ocean swells coming into the anchorage. They barely move her. But the short period chop from ferries and dinghies are another story. Which is one of the reasons for her big booms.

Each boom has one of these 18″ x 24″ / 450mm x 600mm plates.

They have plastic “valves” which open allowing the  plate to drop quickly on the down roll.

And close as the boat rolls up.

The drag of this small plate is enough to attenuate almost all motion. Most sailboats can get by with one on the end of the spinnaker pole. We are OK with two despite our size due to our hull shape and its lack of reaction to the waves, and the fact that the flopper stoppers are on the end of 20 foot / 6m booms.

When we are using these a lot, and not moving much, when we do change anchorages the flopper stoppers are hoisted and left at the boom ends. On longer passages they are removed and stored.

We are sorry to report that the units shown are no longer made, but there are other systems available.