Chapter 797 - 360: Gust Front!_4

Chapter 797: Chapter 360: Gust Front!_4

She instantly switched from an ordinary duty sailor to that experienced ASA instructor!

"Lin! Listen to my commands!" she shouted loudly, taking complete control at that moment.

"Copy that, Coach!" Lin Yu’an immediately responded, willing to follow her lead; this was her battlefield.

Riven stabilized the helm while quickly issuing orders, "I need to head the bow into the wind now, about 30 degrees upwind, turning the mainsail into a flag to relieve wind pressure!"

"Go to the main mast immediately and prepare to operate the furling line!"

"Got it!" Lin Yu’an quickly fastened the safety rope and dashed towards the main mast without hesitation.

"Wait a minute!" Just as Lin Yu’an was about to start operating, Riven shouted again, her eyes sharp as a hawk, fixed on the waves blurred by the rain ahead.

"No! The waves are too chaotic! If we go directly upwind, the bow will be battered by side waves due to loss of speed, and the hull will shake violently; you won’t be able to stand!"

This is something you can’t learn from books, only from real combat experience!

"Maintain the course! We’ll use a reefed sail!" She immediately made a more advanced and skill-testing decision.

Lin Yu’an immediately understood her intention. A reefed sail, which is not completely upwind, allows the sail to still bear part of the wind force.

To reduce the sail while maintaining certain speed and stability requires extreme precision in force and timing.

"Lin! Loosen the mainsail foot rope! Loosen it until the mainsail is almost against the side stays, let the sail ’float,’ to reduce wind pressure as much as possible!" Riven commanded loudly.

Lin Yu’an complied immediately, the giant mainsail releasing a violent shudder, like a wild beast trying to break free from the reins.

"Now, listen to my command!" Riven focused intently on the anemometer and the ship’s posture.

"The wind speed fluctuates; wait for the next gust to pass, in the lull when the wind weakens! Three... two... one... now! Crank!"

Almost as she shouted "Crank," Lin Yu’an exploded with all his strength!

He abandoned the button, pulled out the hand crank, and spun the manual winch of the furling system like the piston of an engine!

"Creak——Creak——"

The metal winch groaned in anguish under enormous pressure, Lin Yu’an’s arm muscles bulging, rainwater mixed with seawater streaming down his forehead.

"Not enough! Faster!" Riven shouted from the back, pressing her body hard against the helm, battling the fierce wind and waves, "The next gust is coming!"

Just then, Lin Yu’an’s calm voice came from the front: "Riven! This is too slow! The friction of the furling line is too great!"

Even during extreme operation, his mind remained sharp, instantly analyzing the crux of the problem.

"Listen to me!" His voice pierced through the wind and rain, "Tighten the mainsail halyard! About ten centimeters! Use lift to reduce friction!"

"By utilizing the Bernoulli effect, create a slight lift on the lower part of the sail, lifting the canvas slightly upwards! This will reduce the friction between the canvas and the furling groove!"

This suggestion, like a bolt of lightning, instantly shattered Riven’s mental preconceptions!

Using aerodynamics to aid mechanical operation? This was an unheard-of genius idea!

Without a moment’s hesitation, she acted immediately. When she precisely tightened that ten centimeters of halyard, a miracle occurred!

Lin Yu’an immediately felt the resistance on the manual winch lighten significantly! He roared, and the spinning speed doubled instantly!

Before the next stronger gust arrived, the mainsail was successfully rolled into the first reef position!

"Lock the furling line!" Riven shouted loudly.

"Locked!" Lin Yu’an deftly completed the last action.

The angle of the ship’s heeling immediately eased, the force that almost capsized the boat vanished.

The Polaris regained stability, like a tamed wild horse, still bumpy in the waves but completely in control.

The sudden sea storm came quickly and went just as fast.

In less than twenty minutes, the wind had fallen back below 20 knots, and the rain stopped.

The clouds in the sky were blown away, revealing the brilliant galaxy once again, as if everything that had just happened was only a dream.

"Phew..." Riven let out a long breath, releasing the helm which was almost embedded in her flesh, feeling her arms tremble uncontrollably.

Riven leaned against the helmsman’s seat, her back soaked, unable to distinguish between rain or cold sweat.

She looked at Lin Yu’an, equally drenched as he carefully checked each rigging, ensuring there was no damage, with an incredibly complex gaze.

There was relief from surviving a disaster, shock at his genius suggestion, but more than anything, an unprecedented feeling of trust where she could completely turn her back to him.

"Thanks, Lin." She said sincerely, not calling him "Captain" or "Monster" this time.

"Your suggestion about the Bernoulli effect was a genius idea! Even my father never taught me that." Riven said sincerely, her voice full of admiration.

"We’re a team." Lin Yu’an walked back to the cockpit, took out two dry towels from the storage compartment, and handed one to Riven. "Go change your clothes, I’ll watch here for now."

Riven took the towel, nodded, said nothing more, and turned into the cabin.

And just as Lin Yu’an was about to wipe his drenched hair dry, a faint applause came from beneath the stairs leading to the cabin.