Ah, the grand plans we had for today! Boat chores were neatly lined up, waiting for us like patient soldiers ready for inspection. But, as we sailors know all too well, the weather often tempts one to abandon plans and set a new course.

The morning greeted us with a sky that could not quite decide if it wanted to be sunny or overcast. The sun played a game of peek-a-boo with the clouds, and it was neither as warm as we liked nor as dreary as it could have been. A mixed bag, as they say.

But lo-and-behold, the winds! Finally, a breeze worthy of calling itself a wind—15 to 20 knots blowing from the north. The perfect excuse to abandon our chores and get a sense of how Koko would behave under these slightly more robust conditions.

As we unfurled the sails, memories of our previous boats fluttered through our minds. Those lovely vessels had a tendency to panic at the mere hint of a strong wind. Even under reef, they would get jittery and start bouncing around like a hyperactive toddler on a sugar high. Bettina, bless her heart, would grip the rails with white-knuckled determination, frowning at the ocean as if she could intimidate it into calming down.

But on Koko? Oh, sailing on Koko is very different. With the wind blowing a solid 18 knots, Koko sailed like a dream. Steady, smooth, and as relaxed as a cat lounging in a sunbeam. In these conditions, we truly began to appreciate Koko’s cutter rig. When we were in the market for our Island Packet, we initially thought that a solent rig would be the best choice, as its larger headsails promise better performance in light winds. However, today we realized the cutter rig’s true advantage—the smaller, self-tacking jib supported by the Hoyt jib boom allows for easy handling without the need to furl even in stronger winds. Ultimately, we favor the beverage-in-hand relaxed cruising style over the rails-in-the-water racing mode, and the cutter rig makes this possible even in sporty winds.

Bettina, usually the epitome of nerves in such conditions, was all smiles today. “This is how I enjoy sailing,” she announced gleefully. “Moving well, but stable and relaxed.” I could not help but chuckle. “You know we have 18 knots blowing, don’t you?” I said, half expecting her to clutch the rails in terror. Bettina looked at me in disbelief. “What? It feels like maybe 8-10 knots on our previous boat!”

And so, with the wind in our sails and smiles on our faces, we glided across the bay, chores forgotten, and totally excited about how well our Koko handles a little stronger winds.