In order to schedule my sailing before the calendar fills with birthdays, landscaping, and cleaning the garage, I race - Yes - my H26 for the 5 weekend Arizona Yacht Club race series in the fall and spring. Very consistent slaves - I mean crew - pair of nines, a twelve, and a rowdy 5 year old. Raced 8 races over 4 days and placed a few times, but settled back in the pack due to sail handling. For the spring season, so far I have added a new main, 3' traveler track, a 4-to-1 internal outhaul, Cunningham, and a rigid boom vang. Most of the stuff came off my wrecked Santana 525. I moved the battery to the port side cabin storage area, removed the bimini, anchor shade, 2gal alcohol for the stove, extra gas can, cooking gear (except for coffee), cockpit cushions, extra sails, line, everything not tied down or cushy to nap on. I also got a longer tiller extension so my 220# booty could sit farther forward on the rail. The Legos and notebook with DVD had to stay to entertain tired deck hands. Bottom is lightly wet sanded – what I could reach – with 300grit VC17. What else can I do to get this thing to get out of its own way outside of a trapeze at the spreader and half the tank filled?
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How did you mount the traveler?
The standard mount for the mainsheet is just a u-bolt in the bottom of the cockpit? Markdb
The standard mount for the mainsheet is just a u-bolt in the bottom of the cockpit? Markdb
Bolt to step in from of companionway
I have yet to try it - maybe saturday. Not hoisted the new main or tried the outhaul. It runs fairly short distance compaired to my old Merit 25, but I hope to keep the leach from closing up on a beat in the light winds here. It looks good and it keeps the main sheet to the side when not sailing.
I have yet to try it - maybe saturday. Not hoisted the new main or tried the outhaul. It runs fairly short distance compaired to my old Merit 25, but I hope to keep the leach from closing up on a beat in the light winds here. It looks good and it keeps the main sheet to the side when not sailing.
Terrific start!
You are well on your way to a much faster boat. You are already aware of the weight factor and have done a lot toward reducing. Consider moving any weight to the base of the keel, battery, anchor & rode, extra sails, water jug....you get the drift. Tune your rig. Start with mast rake. Carry as much as the helm will allow. Check mast prebend to match the luff curve of your main. Increase the cap shroud tension to the max allowable. This will help with headstay sag which will give much better pointing. This is the tough one. Check your sail inventory. Blown out sails, no matter how "white" they may look, are not going to be competitive. If they are blown out and are dacron, consider having them re cut. That is not a big budget item and can go along way to increasing the usable life of your sails. Dry lube EVERYTHING that turns before each race, blocks, sheaves, traveler..... Last and probably most important, practice, practice, practice. Most races are not won they are lost. The guy who makes the fewest mistakes wins. Good luck, enjoy
You are well on your way to a much faster boat. You are already aware of the weight factor and have done a lot toward reducing. Consider moving any weight to the base of the keel, battery, anchor & rode, extra sails, water jug....you get the drift. Tune your rig. Start with mast rake. Carry as much as the helm will allow. Check mast prebend to match the luff curve of your main. Increase the cap shroud tension to the max allowable. This will help with headstay sag which will give much better pointing. This is the tough one. Check your sail inventory. Blown out sails, no matter how "white" they may look, are not going to be competitive. If they are blown out and are dacron, consider having them re cut. That is not a big budget item and can go along way to increasing the usable life of your sails. Dry lube EVERYTHING that turns before each race, blocks, sheaves, traveler..... Last and probably most important, practice, practice, practice. Most races are not won they are lost. The guy who makes the fewest mistakes wins. Good luck, enjoy
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