Fighting the tide

[Gary]

The area I sail in has a strong current. Bigger boats are able to go windward against the current, where I seem to be sailing backwards. Is there anything to adjust or implement to make the C-22 gain ground in a strong current?

 

[Pete]

We had a similar problem

We saw much the same thing when we started out in our C22. It has a lower hull speed (by 1-2 knots) than bigger boats, so this may be part of it. You won't overcome that factor. I also tried to emulate the sail trim of those bigger boats when we were headed in the same direction, assuming that they were more experienced at it. In this respect you might try a larger sail, such as a cruising spinnaker. I eventually noticed that some of these faster, bigger boats were spouting water out of their stern, i.e., they were motor sailing, which accounted for their speed. Finally, I tried more often to set my course to take advantage of the current when I could, and stop fighting it.

 

[Randy]

know the area

get to know the area, often the tides and currents will move in two directions at the same time, when a change takes place, its normally happening near the shore first...while deep in the channel the tide might be flooding where along shore its starting to ebb... while racing I often have to take a different corse to stay out of the same water the larger boats are in.... on another note, the 22 is a light boat and the driving force is in the roach of the mainsail...if NOT racing "one design" with the association, and a new main is in your future, check out a full batton with a larger roach....I have done this and the waves that once stoped me dead are now simple to blast through.....