Beneteau First 24 Question

[JohnK Austin TX]

Good day,

I am in the market to buy a day sailor/overnight camper for competitive lake sailing. (I currently race a Capri22) . I am interested in 24SE but many experienced keelboat sailors with dinghy experience at our yacht club keep telling me not to buy a boat without a traveler if I want to be competitive. They argue that wang-sheeting can not replace a proper traveler for good sail trim.

I could not find any 24SE groups on the internet to ask questions about traveler or no traveler for competitive racing so I decided to contact you.

Can you please help me understand why 24SE can still be a competitive option without a traveler.

Thank you.

 

[Hollyberry]

Certainly without a powerful vang the lack of a traveler would be a deal breaker for me... OTOH loading up the vang so heavily (in the absence of a traveler) can put tremendous load on the gooseneck fitting.
Not familiar with the 24SE but is retrofitting a traveler a possibility? What year are you looking at?

 

[JohnK Austin TX]

Certainly without a powerful vang the lack of a traveler would be a deal breaker for me... OTOH loading up the vang so heavily (in the absence of a traveler) can put tremendous load on the gooseneck fitting.
Not familiar with the 24SE but is retrofitting a traveler a possibility? What year are you looking at?

I am looking for any year , not new, Seascape 24SE or Beneteau First 24SE. I understand the argument for traveler, I have one and use it. I was hoping to get opinions of folks who actually do have experience with both set ups and hopefully a 24SE owner to comment.

These are newer design boats and perhaps designers did leave out the traveler this for a reason.... The wang on these boats have a lot of purchase and the main sheet design is very different from any other keelboat I have seen. (Bigger sister of this boat, at 27ft, comes with a traveler but this one doesn't, so I am thinking there must be a reason... 27 comes with bigger cabin, head and single burner galley/sail locker + proper berth but I don't need any of those amenities on a small lake, so don't want to spend that much.)

 

[jssailem]

Note: the traveler gives you the ability for continuous micro adjustments to trim. The Vang sheeting does not provide the same micro adjustment capability.

 

[Davidasailor26]

I presume your racing would be PHRF? If so any lost performance from the lack of traveler would be part of the 24se class design and *should* be built into the handicap. (Insert PHRF criticisms /flame wars here.) In terms of actual performance the long bridle that the sheet attaches to probably mitigates some of the usual issues with missing the traveler. You won’t be able to get the boom above the centerline but you will be able to get it a lot closer than a traditional cabin top or cockpit mounted sheet. The designer should build that limitation into the design of the mainsail and whole rig, so although it’s probably a compromise my guess is it’s not a huge one.

 

[JohnK Austin TX]

I presume your racing would be PHRF? If so any lost performance from the lack of traveler would be part of the 24se class design and *should* be built into the handicap. (Insert PHRF criticisms /flame wars here.) In terms of actual performance the long bridle that the sheet attaches to probably mitigates some of the usual issues with missing the traveler. You won’t be able to get the boom above the centerline but you will be able to get it a lot closer than a traditional cabin top or cockpit mounted sheet. The designer should build that limitation into the design of the mainsail and whole rig, so although it’s probably a compromise my guess is it’s not a huge one.

Yes, that is correct. I will be in PHRF (I already I am, we don't have enough Capri22 boats at our club). Not being able to get the boom above the centerline may be a concern in light air but I am not entirely sure. I did sail on a F24SE back in August in Chicago in light winds (3-5 knts) and sog was 2-3, heeled over (sitting on the lee side). Slower when flat.

It makes sense that the designer may have factored that in but I don't have any real experience on these modern design boats.