Ben ocranis 31 round up

Captn TJ · Oct 3, 2013

chuckbuck said:
Hey folks - less than a month in and I am still head over heels in love with my 2008 beneteau oceanis 31... This past weekend, I was able to do some upwind sailing and I am happy to report that I overtook a bravaria. 36!! One thing that concerned me was just how tender she was - as soon as the winds picked up over 16 knots, I had to fight the helm to keep her from rounding up. I reduced sail and kept on as usual ...but I wondered if this was normal - felt light to have to reduce sail at such a low velocity - any insights are welcome!! Thx!!!

There are probably more questions than answers at this point. Apparent or True wind? Wind angle? Did you drop the traveller to spill the main? Which sail did you reef?

Rob2435 · Oct 3, 2013

I am with dropping the traveller

Jackdaw · Oct 4, 2013

20 knots AP is a fair amount of breeze. And rounding up is your boats way of telling you you have too much power in the main. Flatten it, reduce the AOA, then reduce area. Tight outhaul and backstay on, right?

I see you came from a C&C 29, a older masthead boat with a 'ribbon' mainsail. The factional O31 is mainsail driven, and will need to be reefed much sooner. We often reef our 36.7 in 15 knots... the boat is flatter and just as fast.

One more thing. What is the condition of your main? You should be able to make the sail almost perfectly flat with max outhaul and backstay. If you cannot and the sail still has significant draft, it is blown out and will generate WAY too much drag/lift in bigger breezes.

mac1840 · Oct 4, 2013

I had a 331, deep keel, prior to my current 43, so similar in size. If you have the 140 genoa, you'll need to start taking that in at about 10-12 knots of wind. At 15 you'll find it more comfortable to be a 90% on the jib and easing the main both the the traveller and by easing the vang to spill some up top. If you start getting puffs over 15, start reefing the main. Sails better on its feet. SF bay is extremely variable so leaving the protection of Alameda, we have everything out, by the time I get to the city in the summer, I'm usually on my first reef, and that's with the 43. We loved our 331 and the only issue that I had was the rudder had more turn to starboard and less to port. Of course, getting into the slip was a port turn. What you're feeling is spot-on for the boats performance. Reef early for a more enjoyable and better performing sail.

Fred

Jim21895 · Oct 4, 2013

You don't need no stinkin reef until you're over 20 true. Jib cars back, flatten main, outhaul on, cunningham on (if you don't have one rig one), drop traveler, ease main, and away you go. Get some twist in the top of the main to spill the air up top. Feather the boat upwind to stay on your feet.

You can reef earlier and it will be more comfortable, but it's not necessary at 16.

The roundup may signal too much power, but usually it's more a result of failing to feather the boat into the wind.

Watch the sport boat guys sail in winds well into the 20s or more with full mains if you want to learn to get the most out of the boat. While not a planing lightweight, the rig of our 31s is very similar to the sport boats.

Jackdaw · Oct 4, 2013

Feathering is good technique to deal with an occasional puff. But in a sustained breeze is it slow and hard on your sails.

Most people wait way to long to reef, like its some macho thing.

Captn TJ · Oct 4, 2013

Jackdaw said:
Feathering is good technique to deal with an occasional puff. But in a sustained breeze is it slow and hard on your sails. Most people wait way to long to reef, like its some macho thing.

+1. Also probably faster since with less helm you're creating less rudder drag

Jim21895 · Oct 4, 2013

I didn't say that feathering should be a full time gig. I prefaced my comment with suggestions as to proper sail trim for the conditions. The only time to feather is in the puffs.

I have a Beneteau 31, just like the OP. I've sailed it with no reef in sustained winds over 20 and puffs measured at 29. The crew was my wife and two kids, and nobody was on the rail. The boat was not overpowered, and the helm was just about neutral. You just have to know how to depower the sail plan.

We have a lot of big wind here. For most people, the trick is to learn how to trim your boat for the conditions. A well tuned rig is a good idea. I moved from a sport boat with big main driven sail plan to the B31 which has a similar sail plan. I learned when racing to trim for the lulls and spill in the puffs to get the best speed from the boat. I sail the B31 like the sporty, and it moves along quite fine with no problems.

You'll note that I also said you could reef if you want more comfort and an easier sail. I do that from time to time if it's a cocktail sail. To each their own.

mac1840 · Oct 5, 2013

Chuck,

Assuming you have Neil Pryde sails, you can go to their website and they have good recommendations on when to reef, how to trim, etc. As the sail maker working with the boat designer, they're the most knowlegable. I didn't see the OC31 listed but you can talk to them or read similar designs like the 34. They tend to set the recommendations for reefing very uniformly between the different boats for Beneteau.
Bottom line, I might be more conservative, others more aggressive in their sail plan, do what you feel comfortable with. That just comes with experimenting in different wind conditions.

Joe2954 · Oct 15, 2013

I don't remember many upwind sails on my 343 with full sails. Yesterday I went out for a few hours in what for my area is normal wind of about 10-15 knots. I had the main furled about 20% and let the genoa out to the shrouds.
I did let the traveler drop about 3 inches during puffs. I was underpowered at times but about right most of the time. The rudder indicator had one or two blips showing. When I went to tweak the main I didn't have to set Otto just let go of the wheel.
The nice thing with furling is you can adjust the sails as much as you need to get a balance.
With my Newport that had a conventional main I often reefed the main before I went out, knowing I would need it anyway. Much easier than when under sail.
When I turn around to head home I unfurl the main and genoa.

I have found that I can more easily heave to with the sails furled. Once hove-to I can ease the main if I want to adjust it.