Gotta love this boat!

[George8396]

Saturday afternoon on Santa Monica Bay. 23.7 mile course was supposed to be windward/leeward but turned in to a beam reach both out and back. Never got the ayso out of the bag. 140% genoa, main on first reef about 1/3 of course. 2-3 ft. wind waves abeam.
Wind speed 15-18 kts
Average boat speed 7.19 kts
Theoretical hull speed 7.3 kts
Top speed registered 7.7 kts

This is "Cruiser Class" racing, hence the 156 handicap, but I have never been able to smoke the 2 Jeanneau 49's on any other point of sail.
Anyone else have similar results?
http://www.dryc.org/sail/races10/stein2.html

 

[richk]

I have a Hunter with a similar, if not identical hulll, an H35 Legend. The weather/wave conditions you mentioned are ideal for that boat! I'm envious...being on the east coast and just thawing out.

Congratulations!

Rich in Annapolis

 

[Ed Schenck]

Very cool. Me too, very jealous sitting here watching the snow melt. What a great ride that must have been, three hours at 7+!

 

[Rick D]

It's The Girls...

...George has crewing. They make the guys work hard! George, I did my first round the buoys race in Long Beach. Three Midwinter races. Took a first, first and third on elapsed and third overall on handicap. The first race was 15-18 knots; the others were 20-25. I should have reefed. A 40.5 is a big guy to horse around four marks in those conditions. I could not point as high as some of the others; I think in part because I was over canvassed. (I have to confess I had two gals on my boat too, one was a world-class dinghy sailor ;-)

So, I see you also beat Gary boat-for-boat. That's going some too. Sounds like you had a good season. I see you are signed up for Ensenada. I'll see you there!

 

[Alan]

Sounds like you had an ASS kickin' good time

Congratulations on the win!! I've always contended that these boats were a lot faster than most folks realize. Good to hear that you're finding the fast buttons. :dance:

 

[rtmccue]

We had a lLegend 35 it was a great boat, fast and fun

 

[TR6]

Broad / beam reach is the best point of sail for my 86 H31 which is raced year round. If I crack off about 5 degrees from close hauled that's the best combination of pointing & speed. Have had 7.6 knots for 1/2 an hour when reaching in flat water. Best boat speed ever was 7.9 and a momentary 8.2 going down a wave. With 5 kts of wind, we are usuallly beaten by an H26, 8 to 10 it's a crapshoot, over 10 we usually beat them, especially if it gets a bit lumpy. There's ourselves, the 26 and 2 35.5'r race in our division and the honours have been divided between us and the 26. !

 

[Alan]

Vic, could you mean a 26.5 of the late 80's vintage? Those boats were extremely fast and could sail rings around other boats of their size if properly set up.

 

[George8396]

Thanks Alan,
Question - How closely do you find the VPP approximates performance on the water, especially downwind. We are about to do the Newport - Ensenada race again, which is usually downwind with light air all night. Would appreciate your comments on best performance (VMG) for 3 to 6 knots apparent at 120 -170 apparent wind angles.

 

[TR6]

The same the 26.5 s in the photos on the site, not sure about age, but I thought early 90's ???

 

[Alan]

George,

True wind of 6kts is pretty light. If you're on a run with the true wind dead astern the apparent is going to feel like 3 kts. At those speeds you will want to sail rather high gybe angles for the best VMG. The apparent wind angle should be about 142 with a projected boat speed of 4.2kts. Sailing flat with as little crew movement as possible and most importantly DON'T play with the helm. Consider the rudder as a brake pedal, every movement of the wheel slows the boat. Take advantage of every wind shift to gybe to the headed sided. In light air, errors are magnified but it's also an opportunity to take advantage of the competition.
Good luck!