The background... Not new to boating, but new to sailing. I have spent most of my adult life at sea as a Surface Line Officer in the Navy and owned several runabouts. Now the question. Sailing today in our newly purchased Catalina 27 (1981) in San Diego Harbor, with a about a 15-20 knot wind at the peak of the gusts, my wife was wide eyed at the heel of the boat. We were under sail with the main and a 150 Geneo. The majority of the legs were close-hauled reaches, about 45 degrees off the wind. I don't think the boat was ever in danger of capsizing or I would have turned into the wind and brought the boat back to an even keel, fired up the diesel and went home. My wife on the other hand, wants a more scientific method of deciding when the boat would capsize. I looked up the Capsize Ratio used by the US Sailing Assoc., 1.73 for my model. There has to be a lot of factors for that number, sail area, sea state, etc. It seems the old Catalina 27s are very stable based on weight, both in ballast and hull thickness. Is there any advice out there on making her feel better about the heeling? Thanks from a newbie to a great pastime. I love being under sail instead of listening to the whine of my gas money! J. Wesley House
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P
Phil
My Explaination
When I get new people on the boat the first think I do is explain that the boat weights 13000lbs, the keel weights 6300lbs. That mean that 50% of the boats weight is hanging from the bottom with the main purpose of preventing the boat from flipping. As the boat heels wind will bleed off the sail, so barring a large broadside wave at the exact time the boat is knocked down, flipping the boat is about impossible. So just hold on and have a drink. So far everyone has seemed to adjust and deal with it pretty well.
When I get new people on the boat the first think I do is explain that the boat weights 13000lbs, the keel weights 6300lbs. That mean that 50% of the boats weight is hanging from the bottom with the main purpose of preventing the boat from flipping. As the boat heels wind will bleed off the sail, so barring a large broadside wave at the exact time the boat is knocked down, flipping the boat is about impossible. So just hold on and have a drink. So far everyone has seemed to adjust and deal with it pretty well.
M
Mike
Dont Worry
J. Wesley, I understand your problem well. My wife and I have a Catalina 22 and she gets afraid when we heel. Teach your wife how to use the main sheet to dump the air when you heel more than 15 degrees. This will give her the feeling of control. You have nothing to worry about, If the 27 is anything like the 22 the rudder should it come out of the water will force the boat straight into the wind. I have had my 22 with water coming into the cabin a couple of times and she still did not capsize. Try using a 110 for a head sail. Have fun. Just take baby steps, she will finally get used to it
J. Wesley, I understand your problem well. My wife and I have a Catalina 22 and she gets afraid when we heel. Teach your wife how to use the main sheet to dump the air when you heel more than 15 degrees. This will give her the feeling of control. You have nothing to worry about, If the 27 is anything like the 22 the rudder should it come out of the water will force the boat straight into the wind. I have had my 22 with water coming into the cabin a couple of times and she still did not capsize. Try using a 110 for a head sail. Have fun. Just take baby steps, she will finally get used to it
What you are looking for is:
the angls of vanishing stability. That is the angle of heel beyond which the boat wants to turn turtle. Unfortunately, I don't have that right off-hand for the C-27, although it is available. There are several websites that discuss this critical number, and at least one that gives you a formula for estimating it (See attached link). To set your wife's mind at ease, the recommended minimum angle of vanishing stability for a "Blue Water" boat is 120 degrees (that is the tip of the mast is 30 degrees below horizontal). A Catalina 27 isn't nearly that high, but I don't know any fixed keel boats (lead sleds) that have an angle of vanishing stability that is less than 90 degrees. According to the reference cited in the attached web site, about the only way to capsize a keel boat is by wave action. A strong puff of wind might knock it down so that the mast tip is int eh water, but it WILL pop back up (in the absence of waves etc.) If you are interested in "Heavy Weather Sailing" read the book of the same name by G Adlard Coles (this is the reference for the equation). It's quite firghtening, but remember, the author experienced all of the storms that he is writing about, and both he and his boat (Cohoe 1 - 5) survived and made it to port safely without capsizing. Steve Alchemist C-30T #4764 Alchemist C-320 #909
the angls of vanishing stability. That is the angle of heel beyond which the boat wants to turn turtle. Unfortunately, I don't have that right off-hand for the C-27, although it is available. There are several websites that discuss this critical number, and at least one that gives you a formula for estimating it (See attached link). To set your wife's mind at ease, the recommended minimum angle of vanishing stability for a "Blue Water" boat is 120 degrees (that is the tip of the mast is 30 degrees below horizontal). A Catalina 27 isn't nearly that high, but I don't know any fixed keel boats (lead sleds) that have an angle of vanishing stability that is less than 90 degrees. According to the reference cited in the attached web site, about the only way to capsize a keel boat is by wave action. A strong puff of wind might knock it down so that the mast tip is int eh water, but it WILL pop back up (in the absence of waves etc.) If you are interested in "Heavy Weather Sailing" read the book of the same name by G Adlard Coles (this is the reference for the equation). It's quite firghtening, but remember, the author experienced all of the storms that he is writing about, and both he and his boat (Cohoe 1 - 5) survived and made it to port safely without capsizing. Steve Alchemist C-30T #4764 Alchemist C-320 #909
I agree with Mike - baby steps
Your wife is your most valuable crew member so take the time to break the new crew "in." Initially in winds that make the boat heel over to her discomfort level, reduce the sail area, even if it is exaggeratedly so. Slowly - or faster depending on her personality - she will develop more confidence in herself, the boat, the weather, and you. My wife has poor "sea legs" (easily sea sick) so our first "cruises" were barbeque's on the boat while still at its moorage slip in Horseshoe Bay. Our first real cruise was a quick motoring over to Bowen Island's Snug Cove (45 minutes). Then a short first sail while actually sailing. Lots of little baby steps lead to adult steps.
Your wife is your most valuable crew member so take the time to break the new crew "in." Initially in winds that make the boat heel over to her discomfort level, reduce the sail area, even if it is exaggeratedly so. Slowly - or faster depending on her personality - she will develop more confidence in herself, the boat, the weather, and you. My wife has poor "sea legs" (easily sea sick) so our first "cruises" were barbeque's on the boat while still at its moorage slip in Horseshoe Bay. Our first real cruise was a quick motoring over to Bowen Island's Snug Cove (45 minutes). Then a short first sail while actually sailing. Lots of little baby steps lead to adult steps.
I was about 20 miles to seaward and 60 miles
upcoast from you yesterday in a C270 lookin for more wind. No worries about capsizing the boat, I think you'd have to broach coming down a 15 foot wave in a Santa Ana. Seriously, I've had my boat out in small craft warnings during Santa Anas with full sails. At about 15 to 20 Kts. of wind speed take a reef in the main while sailing upwind, furl the jib to about a 100% or 90% so helm is balanced. Boat will be more upright. Also a cold, wet and beaten to death, slog to windward in So. Calif. becomes a warm, still, & sleepy picnic cruise when you turn around and go downwind.
upcoast from you yesterday in a C270 lookin for more wind. No worries about capsizing the boat, I think you'd have to broach coming down a 15 foot wave in a Santa Ana. Seriously, I've had my boat out in small craft warnings during Santa Anas with full sails. At about 15 to 20 Kts. of wind speed take a reef in the main while sailing upwind, furl the jib to about a 100% or 90% so helm is balanced. Boat will be more upright. Also a cold, wet and beaten to death, slog to windward in So. Calif. becomes a warm, still, & sleepy picnic cruise when you turn around and go downwind.
J
J. Wesley House
Thanks!
Thanks for the wonderful help! We were back out in a light wind yesterday and she enjoyed the voyage a lot more. The first day out in a strong wind was probably not the best first trip. I love the boat and if anyone has any questions about buying a used/pre-sailed boat in this size range, let me know. I made enough mistakes along the way to help just about anyone! Thanks again and I hope to see you on the water in sunny San Diego. J. Wesley House
Thanks for the wonderful help! We were back out in a light wind yesterday and she enjoyed the voyage a lot more. The first day out in a strong wind was probably not the best first trip. I love the boat and if anyone has any questions about buying a used/pre-sailed boat in this size range, let me know. I made enough mistakes along the way to help just about anyone! Thanks again and I hope to see you on the water in sunny San Diego. J. Wesley House
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Bob
weather helm design
Here is a way to pacify those who fear turning over. Its simple enough and its call "weatherhelm" that is built into every slooped rigged vessel. Next time when your at the helm and your on a close reach, closed hauled and with the rail near the water, just let go of the tiller or wheel and she will come up into the wind and get caught in the "irons" as sure as the sun sets everyday. Heeling on the wetted surface is what the boat is designed to do and the vessel will fight you hard (weatherhelm) to straighten up. Its a design safeguard. Read up on adjusting your rigging, especially backstay and boomvang adjustments to ease the process. The rake of the mast relative to the wind has a bearing on performance and weatherhelm tuning. You will notice that reefing your main and furling in your jib plays into the equation as winds increase. If the helm gets abit overbearing as the wind freshens, reef down and get more comfortable. Always get the crew to the "high side" for balance. This is where the thrills are, especially if your hanging over like the 12 meter cup racers do. I love heeling on my Catalina 30, but the only thing I fear is everything falling, shifting and breaking below. Sail with confidence and know you have a sound vessel. Bob
Here is a way to pacify those who fear turning over. Its simple enough and its call "weatherhelm" that is built into every slooped rigged vessel. Next time when your at the helm and your on a close reach, closed hauled and with the rail near the water, just let go of the tiller or wheel and she will come up into the wind and get caught in the "irons" as sure as the sun sets everyday. Heeling on the wetted surface is what the boat is designed to do and the vessel will fight you hard (weatherhelm) to straighten up. Its a design safeguard. Read up on adjusting your rigging, especially backstay and boomvang adjustments to ease the process. The rake of the mast relative to the wind has a bearing on performance and weatherhelm tuning. You will notice that reefing your main and furling in your jib plays into the equation as winds increase. If the helm gets abit overbearing as the wind freshens, reef down and get more comfortable. Always get the crew to the "high side" for balance. This is where the thrills are, especially if your hanging over like the 12 meter cup racers do. I love heeling on my Catalina 30, but the only thing I fear is everything falling, shifting and breaking below. Sail with confidence and know you have a sound vessel. Bob
Be comfortable
Since you mentioned a 150 genor in 15-20 knots, your sail area may have been overpowered. Had you reefed either main or genoa? Learning how to reef and when to reef is a valuable lesson that will make the boat more comfortable, therefore more comfortable. This is really important when considering the wife's happiness.
Since you mentioned a 150 genor in 15-20 knots, your sail area may have been overpowered. Had you reefed either main or genoa? Learning how to reef and when to reef is a valuable lesson that will make the boat more comfortable, therefore more comfortable. This is really important when considering the wife's happiness.
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