I love sailing in heavy wind. Big adrenaline junkie with little sailing experience. At what wind speed do you guys typically reef your main? Does a 30 knot wind seem safe to have full sails? Is it a wind or heel issue? (These questions are being asked on behalf of a scared crew.) -Carol freestyle
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Ken Shubert
Bad News !
Sorry but the H23.5 is not a 'big wind' boat. WB puts the CG up high which makes it tender. It likes to head up into the wind and once the tiller looses it's bite, you'll round up rather violently. If you're on a reach with too much sail, the bow can dive under and that's exciting too. The H23.5 has quite a bit of sail and does well in winds around 5 kts. I notice that the H240 has less sail area. I've found (and many others too) that reefing early at 20-25 mph actually will give you more speed but perhaps less thrills. Above 30 mph, I use a storm Jib and sometimes wish I'd had that second reef point sewn in. On the bright side, the rigging seems rugged and I haven't blown out a sail, so go for it but do wear a PFD. The worst danger is being thrown out. Ken S/V Wouff Hong
Sorry but the H23.5 is not a 'big wind' boat. WB puts the CG up high which makes it tender. It likes to head up into the wind and once the tiller looses it's bite, you'll round up rather violently. If you're on a reach with too much sail, the bow can dive under and that's exciting too. The H23.5 has quite a bit of sail and does well in winds around 5 kts. I notice that the H240 has less sail area. I've found (and many others too) that reefing early at 20-25 mph actually will give you more speed but perhaps less thrills. Above 30 mph, I use a storm Jib and sometimes wish I'd had that second reef point sewn in. On the bright side, the rigging seems rugged and I haven't blown out a sail, so go for it but do wear a PFD. The worst danger is being thrown out. Ken S/V Wouff Hong
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Eric Lorgus
Thrill seeker?
Carol, I learned to sail on Sunfishes, where part of the fun always seemed to be how far you could heel the boat before going over. The ultimate accomplishment was putting it on its side, stepping over the gunwale and onto the dagger board, and righting the boat without going in yourself! I'm with you as to the thrill of being heeled way over, but it's not good practice on a keelboat. I've never sailed the 23.5, but most keelboats behave the same when overpowered -- you need more & more rudder to stay your course, and you begin to lose speed because of how far over you have the rudder. You're also a candidate for a breach when overpowered (loss of steering control, for which the recovery is to ease the sheets). Save the thrills for the Sunfishes & Hobie Cats. Don't overpower your 23.5. Be kind to your crew & boat. Enjoy! Eric Lorgus
Carol, I learned to sail on Sunfishes, where part of the fun always seemed to be how far you could heel the boat before going over. The ultimate accomplishment was putting it on its side, stepping over the gunwale and onto the dagger board, and righting the boat without going in yourself! I'm with you as to the thrill of being heeled way over, but it's not good practice on a keelboat. I've never sailed the 23.5, but most keelboats behave the same when overpowered -- you need more & more rudder to stay your course, and you begin to lose speed because of how far over you have the rudder. You're also a candidate for a breach when overpowered (loss of steering control, for which the recovery is to ease the sheets). Save the thrills for the Sunfishes & Hobie Cats. Don't overpower your 23.5. Be kind to your crew & boat. Enjoy! Eric Lorgus
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Frank
Heeling slows you
If you are consistantly heeled more than 15 to 20 degrees you are likely sailing slower than you could by reefing and sailing upright. I am very dissapointed with my 23.5 ability in heavy weather, but it seems like a speed demon in light winds. I'm sure as I get more experience with this boat in heavy air I'll do better. But at the present time, any heavy winds cause tremendous heeling and loss of rudder control that causes uncontrolled rounding up. Have fun. Frank
If you are consistantly heeled more than 15 to 20 degrees you are likely sailing slower than you could by reefing and sailing upright. I am very dissapointed with my 23.5 ability in heavy weather, but it seems like a speed demon in light winds. I'm sure as I get more experience with this boat in heavy air I'll do better. But at the present time, any heavy winds cause tremendous heeling and loss of rudder control that causes uncontrolled rounding up. Have fun. Frank
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Bruce Mulford
To Eric...
Wow Eric! Glad to have someone else say you can 360 the sunfish and not get wet. Nobody ever believes me when I tell them how I 360'd my sunfish and stayed dry! (This was almost 30 years ago but I still like to tell the story.) The sunfish is hanging from my garage ceiling because it is such a fun toy (compared to my much more comfortable H 29.5 but seemimgly much slower) that I can't bear to part with it. Happy sailing! Bruce Mulford s/v Windswept
Wow Eric! Glad to have someone else say you can 360 the sunfish and not get wet. Nobody ever believes me when I tell them how I 360'd my sunfish and stayed dry! (This was almost 30 years ago but I still like to tell the story.) The sunfish is hanging from my garage ceiling because it is such a fun toy (compared to my much more comfortable H 29.5 but seemimgly much slower) that I can't bear to part with it. Happy sailing! Bruce Mulford s/v Windswept
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Eric Lorgus
To Bruce...
Bruce, You have me topped. My trick was more like a 115 degree roll, followed by a deft recovery. I tried not to let her ever turn turtle completely, because it was so much harder to right. But, GET THIS -- I still have my old Sunfish, too. I'm afraid it's no longer seaworthy. It was a wooden handbuilt Sunfish, that was later glassed over, making it a relatively heavy Sunfish. The fiberglass began to blister, and I peeled it off years ago, but never got around to reglassing it. Great memories, though. If you know anyone who would like to fix up a wooden Sunfish, I'd be happy to see it have a new home with someone who will sail it again. Eric Lorgus ELorgus@AOL.com
Bruce, You have me topped. My trick was more like a 115 degree roll, followed by a deft recovery. I tried not to let her ever turn turtle completely, because it was so much harder to right. But, GET THIS -- I still have my old Sunfish, too. I'm afraid it's no longer seaworthy. It was a wooden handbuilt Sunfish, that was later glassed over, making it a relatively heavy Sunfish. The fiberglass began to blister, and I peeled it off years ago, but never got around to reglassing it. Great memories, though. If you know anyone who would like to fix up a wooden Sunfish, I'd be happy to see it have a new home with someone who will sail it again. Eric Lorgus ELorgus@AOL.com
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Nancy Berg
Old Sunfish
We still have our first sailboat, a '75 Sunfish. Still sail it and teach people to sail on it. I can't do the quick step to the daggerboard any more (52y/o) But I love it when a kid I am teaching does it.Great boat for kids, adults and old ladies, too.
We still have our first sailboat, a '75 Sunfish. Still sail it and teach people to sail on it. I can't do the quick step to the daggerboard any more (52y/o) But I love it when a kid I am teaching does it.Great boat for kids, adults and old ladies, too.
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Ron Mehringer
15 knots
I've never been on a 23.5, but on my H26 I'm reefed at 15 knots. If I want more excitement I'll go sailing on my friend's Hobie 18. Seriously, I think full sails on the 23.5 in 30 knot winds is pushing your luck. Ron Mehringer s/v Hydro-Therapy
I've never been on a 23.5, but on my H26 I'm reefed at 15 knots. If I want more excitement I'll go sailing on my friend's Hobie 18. Seriously, I think full sails on the 23.5 in 30 knot winds is pushing your luck. Ron Mehringer s/v Hydro-Therapy
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