We have owned a 2004 Hunter 216 Hull #221 for 4 years now. We have sailed her hard during each spring, summer and fall each year. This spring we began racing in the offshore 4P region 4 division on the Chesapeake out of Deltaville, VA. Our PHRF rating is 192.
Needless to say, we have done poorly coming in last of the entire fleet in all classes. Our downwind performance is great and we've hit 9.3 kts downwind on several occasions - rounding up soon after - but great speed. However, to weather it’s abysmal. Our tacking angles are 120 - 140 degrees (60 - 70 off the wind). We've tried tailing our competition (Colgate 26s, SR-Max 21s, j/24s, etc) attempting to match their ability to point. It’s a huge difference.
To be honest, I am beginning to question if this is the right boat for what we are trying to do. The easiest explanation is my skill level needs to improve – an explanation I am willing to accept if I know the boat really can perform. Another explanation is the rigging isn’t tuned properly. And yet another explanation is the boat just can’t do it.
Bottom line I need confirmation that something is off or that’s the way it is.
I’ve included a list of modifications/characteristics for reference:
- Added a traveler
- Added a rigid vang, removed the topping lift
- Added a mast wedge to tighten up the mast
- Tuned outer shrouds to 40, inner shrouds to 20 (also tried Hunter’s oem recommendations to 35/15 respectively)
- Replaced the OEM jib with a new jib built to the same spec
- OEM Main is in good shape, just checked by our sail maker this spring
- New bottom paint – sprayed on
- The headstay does sag a little with the spinnaker out – for those unaware the headstay is integrated into the jib furling – so not sure how to tighten it outside of tightening the shrouds
- The mast has little to no aft bend
Needless to say, we have done poorly coming in last of the entire fleet in all classes. Our downwind performance is great and we've hit 9.3 kts downwind on several occasions - rounding up soon after - but great speed. However, to weather it’s abysmal. Our tacking angles are 120 - 140 degrees (60 - 70 off the wind). We've tried tailing our competition (Colgate 26s, SR-Max 21s, j/24s, etc) attempting to match their ability to point. It’s a huge difference.
To be honest, I am beginning to question if this is the right boat for what we are trying to do. The easiest explanation is my skill level needs to improve – an explanation I am willing to accept if I know the boat really can perform. Another explanation is the rigging isn’t tuned properly. And yet another explanation is the boat just can’t do it.
Bottom line I need confirmation that something is off or that’s the way it is.
I’ve included a list of modifications/characteristics for reference:
- Added a traveler
- Added a rigid vang, removed the topping lift
- Added a mast wedge to tighten up the mast
- Tuned outer shrouds to 40, inner shrouds to 20 (also tried Hunter’s oem recommendations to 35/15 respectively)
- Replaced the OEM jib with a new jib built to the same spec
- OEM Main is in good shape, just checked by our sail maker this spring
- New bottom paint – sprayed on
- The headstay does sag a little with the spinnaker out – for those unaware the headstay is integrated into the jib furling – so not sure how to tighten it outside of tightening the shrouds
- The mast has little to no aft bend