Catalina 320 Speed

[Larry Dean]

I sailed on a friends new Catalina 320 with roller furling main and a furling 110 jib. I noticed that in 16 knots of wind we were only sailing a 3 1/2 knots. I curious if other 320 owners have felt slow.I imagine a battened main and at least a 135% would make a difference.Any comments.

 

[Ted]

Wow!

I ahve a 1999 C320 and can easily get 6 knots in a 12 knot breeze anywhere from 40 to 90 degrees off the wind. I suggest a sail trim course or something. If you search the internet there are a couple of great primers on the subject. No way should you be that slow unless something is seriously wrong with the sails, sail handling or the bottom of the boat.

 

[Gary]

Sounds way wrong !!

Can't speak for the 32, but I've sailed 30's and 34's and at 15 knots of wind, you should be doing at least 6 knots and probably more depending on your tack. If your only going 3 knots, check the anchor locker, perhaps it's dragging behind you.

 

[Chris Gonzales]

Or...

Assuming you are sailing in "normal" conditions I would wonder if there may be a problem with the knot meter? You shouldn't even be able to keep that boat at that speed in that wind even if you wanted to!

 

[Matt]

Calibrate the knot meter

A brand new knot meter must be calibrated before it will show the true speed. Depending on how it was installed, it may be angled slightly off of true center or is just plain wrong. There are several ways to calibrate it, and most charts will have some indication of a true nautical mile which is the best way. Run the mile course both directions, determine the difference between the average true speed and the displayed speed, then change the calibration of the meter to reflect this.You can also use the stick in the water method, counting the seconds that it takes the stick to travel from the front of the boat to the back, then using the length of the boat as the reference, you can determine how fast you were moving. Of course if you are dealing with a current, that will have to be taken into account.By the way, 16knots is a lot of wind. You should be seriously reefed in this much wind.

 

[Joe Barrett]

Genoa

Yes the knotmeter is probably off. Your friend should have a GPS installed with seatalk and use that to calibrate the knotmeter. Also a 110% jib is too small, I regularly race with a laiminated 155% up to 18kts. No mainsail reef till over 20+ kts.Don't forget a 320 wieghs in at almost 12,000 lbs. He can't do much about the battens in the main though with the mainsail furling system.

 

[Stan Rogacevicz]

Knotmeter & Trim ?

My c320 was delivered with the knotmeter almost 2kts low. I sail with my 135 furled to about 110 much of the time so I can see lobster pots and in the 16 (apparent I assume) it's 5-6 just relaxing so there is certainly something wrong with the picture you were in. I'd say mistake #1 was getting a 110 for NY - SF Bay maybe, but not NY. With a foam luff pad I get a decent shape furled down to 110 any way. Most of what I have heard about the furling mains has been OK, but if the sails aren't trimmed reasonably well 6 tons gets heavier. Maybe he needs to order a Sail Trim Chart.Stan"Christy Leigh"c320 #656