After re-reading some of the post on this thread I thought I would add some more. We need to address is your boat set up to race? Do you have adjustable fair leads or a back stay adjuster?( I know the new boats don't have backstay's)Can you repeat fast settings on halyard tension? Do you have a whisker pole for JAM racing? Lets get this Hunter Racing spot full of discussion. Cliff Ruckstuhl Hunter 28.5
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Racing
I sympathize with you Cliff, in that racing is not addressed that often. I think the reality is that Hunters are becoming more and more cruisers and those are the people that buy them. Nothing wrong with that at all. Those of us with older boats are probably split on whether or not we cruise or race or both. Might make an intresting survey. Another factor is whether you belong to a club which has races, if you belong to a club at all. Another issue is that to race, even to a PHRF, there is an assumption that the bottom is clean and the sails are in race condition. If you don't have these, then you have a tough time on the race course unless you are one of those veterans who can sniff out windshifts 10 miles away.
) I have a 28.5 with original sails and I know that the boat will sail better with a new set but since they are servicable, I can't see spending the money to get a little more speed. I would like to know however how those with my boat optimize their speed. If I use their tips, my boat will the better for it. I raced for many years and have to say that it made me a much better sailor so I encourage those who are racing to share their savy so we all may benefit.
I sympathize with you Cliff, in that racing is not addressed that often. I think the reality is that Hunters are becoming more and more cruisers and those are the people that buy them. Nothing wrong with that at all. Those of us with older boats are probably split on whether or not we cruise or race or both. Might make an intresting survey. Another factor is whether you belong to a club which has races, if you belong to a club at all. Another issue is that to race, even to a PHRF, there is an assumption that the bottom is clean and the sails are in race condition. If you don't have these, then you have a tough time on the race course unless you are one of those veterans who can sniff out windshifts 10 miles away.
) I have a 28.5 with original sails and I know that the boat will sail better with a new set but since they are servicable, I can't see spending the money to get a little more speed. I would like to know however how those with my boat optimize their speed. If I use their tips, my boat will the better for it. I raced for many years and have to say that it made me a much better sailor so I encourage those who are racing to share their savy so we all may benefit.Jack and others
I too did'nt want to spend the money for new sail's but if I want to compete than I must do it. Last year while racing our Tripp 26 and having a couple of fleets start before us just looking up the course I could see all UK Tape Drive or some sort of Kevlar Racing Sails on just about every boat. But I have seen guys with old sails do well but those are the guys that can smell the windshift ten miles away. I used to race against a guy with Oday 23 and orginal sails and on real low air days he would be tough to beat because his sails were blown out but on med to heavy air days he was not even in the race and could not keep the boat on it's feet. New sails not only make the boat faster they also reduce heel and can help you out run a storm. If a person just wants to go sailing that is great but if they race get discourged because of coming in last place than the problem is not the boat design or the PHRF number but more than likely boat prepardness. Maybe if we can get two or three of the 28.5 guys we can get a fleet discount. Than keep the good sails for racing and use the old sails for just out sailing around. Cliff
I too did'nt want to spend the money for new sail's but if I want to compete than I must do it. Last year while racing our Tripp 26 and having a couple of fleets start before us just looking up the course I could see all UK Tape Drive or some sort of Kevlar Racing Sails on just about every boat. But I have seen guys with old sails do well but those are the guys that can smell the windshift ten miles away. I used to race against a guy with Oday 23 and orginal sails and on real low air days he would be tough to beat because his sails were blown out but on med to heavy air days he was not even in the race and could not keep the boat on it's feet. New sails not only make the boat faster they also reduce heel and can help you out run a storm. If a person just wants to go sailing that is great but if they race get discourged because of coming in last place than the problem is not the boat design or the PHRF number but more than likely boat prepardness. Maybe if we can get two or three of the 28.5 guys we can get a fleet discount. Than keep the good sails for racing and use the old sails for just out sailing around. Cliff
Cruiser Fleet
What you need is a "Cruiser Fleet" so the 28.5s are racing against other cruisers rather than Tripp 26 rocket ships. I have and always will maintain that if you spend the night on board the night before (hence sleeping bags, food, water, beverages, etc etc etc) then you should be given a time allowance! Race for fun, sail to win and have fun
What you need is a "Cruiser Fleet" so the 28.5s are racing against other cruisers rather than Tripp 26 rocket ships. I have and always will maintain that if you spend the night on board the night before (hence sleeping bags, food, water, beverages, etc etc etc) then you should be given a time allowance! Race for fun, sail to win and have fun
28.5
As mentioned in previous posting I race an 88' 28.5sd. I have tried offen to get insight on racing the 28.5. I want to purchase polar diagrams from US Sailing but can not justify $200 plus for the information. Maybe we can combo the purchase. I have tons of questions on what is working for you guys. My biggest problem is that some of the responses that I have gotten back from this site have been stuff I read in a book, no major insight for our boat. I get killed in windward lewward races on the down wind leg. Read my other response for the boats I race against. Bigger boats more canvas. I want to jibe down wind except the fleet is going wing on wing. Thus the need for the polar diagram. Our boat is in the bottom third of our fleets ratings. Our results are posted at Barringtonyc.com Tuesday night Coxs series. We had a couple races where we were over early and finished last or at the bottom. The other finishes are from a ripped sail to letting someone else helm while I was out of town. All in all we are about the 4th with as our local sail maker said " Moments of greatness" Those days are windy triangle races. Last year I added a new mainsail from North and had improvement. I also did alot of other things like more experienced crew, recut my 155 to a 150. added a backstay, an improved my bottom, Along with another year of racing under my belt. Lets keep these talks going and maybe by spring we can a few new tricks in our bag and can share our war stories.
As mentioned in previous posting I race an 88' 28.5sd. I have tried offen to get insight on racing the 28.5. I want to purchase polar diagrams from US Sailing but can not justify $200 plus for the information. Maybe we can combo the purchase. I have tons of questions on what is working for you guys. My biggest problem is that some of the responses that I have gotten back from this site have been stuff I read in a book, no major insight for our boat. I get killed in windward lewward races on the down wind leg. Read my other response for the boats I race against. Bigger boats more canvas. I want to jibe down wind except the fleet is going wing on wing. Thus the need for the polar diagram. Our boat is in the bottom third of our fleets ratings. Our results are posted at Barringtonyc.com Tuesday night Coxs series. We had a couple races where we were over early and finished last or at the bottom. The other finishes are from a ripped sail to letting someone else helm while I was out of town. All in all we are about the 4th with as our local sail maker said " Moments of greatness" Those days are windy triangle races. Last year I added a new mainsail from North and had improvement. I also did alot of other things like more experienced crew, recut my 155 to a 150. added a backstay, an improved my bottom, Along with another year of racing under my belt. Lets keep these talks going and maybe by spring we can a few new tricks in our bag and can share our war stories.
Were on to something!!
Having owned and raced the 23,25.5 and now with no experence with the 28.5 this is where I am. First I don't think Hunter had Polars done for the 28.8. I called US Sailing years ago about my 23 and was told ther were Polars done for the 35.5 (I think it was the 35.5) and it was the only Hunter they had info on. It was up to Hunter to have this done. There was a guy a while back who posted about racing his 28.5 and he was doing real well in his racing. I think that because of the swept back spreaders that we are not going to do well in a Wing and Wing down wind run. The spreaders will kill the shape of the main. So I think Spinnaker class is the way to go. I plan to buy a new main and a 98 this winter. My 150 will have to go another year even though I hate it. I also plan to add a backstay and Boom Vang. The backstay will be a 16 to 1. But not going with the pincher set up. The backstay gets in the way at the angle they are at now, just stearing at the position I smack my head on the darn things. So I will take out the triangle and add a block to and go with a 8 to 1 on one and after it comes thorough the block where the triangle is it will double. I did this on my 25.5 and it worked well. The other is to change the traveler set up. By leaving the current track and car I should be able to add the right stuff to have the main sail trimmer set stradeling the track and let out the main a few inches at a time to have the boat accelerate through the puffs. I think I will race with a crew of 4 counting my self mostly because of haveing room for 4 guys to sleep. I am not sure what crew placement will be but from racing the 25.5 we found that the boat was a little faster with the stern out of the water. So I am guessing that the main trimmer will stradel the travler and hikeing out with the two other crew sitting at the shrouds with the shrouds in the middle of those two. The other thing is sailing in the right direction I have a Tack Tick and it does help ALLOT. So A fast bottom good sail's and getting good work out of the crew is the key. But can we do it most of the time? Cliff
Having owned and raced the 23,25.5 and now with no experence with the 28.5 this is where I am. First I don't think Hunter had Polars done for the 28.8. I called US Sailing years ago about my 23 and was told ther were Polars done for the 35.5 (I think it was the 35.5) and it was the only Hunter they had info on. It was up to Hunter to have this done. There was a guy a while back who posted about racing his 28.5 and he was doing real well in his racing. I think that because of the swept back spreaders that we are not going to do well in a Wing and Wing down wind run. The spreaders will kill the shape of the main. So I think Spinnaker class is the way to go. I plan to buy a new main and a 98 this winter. My 150 will have to go another year even though I hate it. I also plan to add a backstay and Boom Vang. The backstay will be a 16 to 1. But not going with the pincher set up. The backstay gets in the way at the angle they are at now, just stearing at the position I smack my head on the darn things. So I will take out the triangle and add a block to and go with a 8 to 1 on one and after it comes thorough the block where the triangle is it will double. I did this on my 25.5 and it worked well. The other is to change the traveler set up. By leaving the current track and car I should be able to add the right stuff to have the main sail trimmer set stradeling the track and let out the main a few inches at a time to have the boat accelerate through the puffs. I think I will race with a crew of 4 counting my self mostly because of haveing room for 4 guys to sleep. I am not sure what crew placement will be but from racing the 25.5 we found that the boat was a little faster with the stern out of the water. So I am guessing that the main trimmer will stradel the travler and hikeing out with the two other crew sitting at the shrouds with the shrouds in the middle of those two. The other thing is sailing in the right direction I have a Tack Tick and it does help ALLOT. So A fast bottom good sail's and getting good work out of the crew is the key. But can we do it most of the time? Cliff
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