How much heel is too much

[Travis]

I have been sailing small board boats most of my life and have now gradguated to an 84' Oday 23. When sailing small boats, capsize equals airconditioning, not the case now. I have been trying to find out what the factory spec is for optimum and maximum degree of heel. It seems to heel rather quickly and therefore I have been reefing sooner than I probably need to. What rules of thumb do the rest of you use to decide when to reef and when your heel is still safe.

 

[EJ Tews]

how much heal

I have a 1984 O'Day 25 and when I have the sails set she will heal to about 18 degrees and is comfortable with out alot of helm. When I get into the 25 degree or more range, I notice she will round up more.I just put a new 150% Genoa on the boat this spring and am getting used to it. Last week during our "Low Stress Race", with winds 10-15 Knots, I did not have my genoa tight enought and the block back far enought and was rounding up more that I should have. I did not notice it at the time and was informed of it later during the "malted cold beverage after race chat".I guess what I am trying to say is wind, sail trim and comfort all have a play in how much heel. The goal is to heel without having to adjust for rounding up with the rudder and slowing the boat down.EJ Tews1984 O'day 25 _/)Jennifer Lea

 

[Mike]

A tender boat

The Oday 23 is a tender boat. She heels early and a lot. Most modern boats like the 23 are designed to sail most efficiently on their waterlines, i.e., as upright as possible. I have found that my 23 sails fastest with about 10 degrees of heel. There just isn't enough keel underneath to turn 15+ knots of wind into speed; I only heel more. If my goal is a comfortable sail, I reef down before the wind gets that high. If I want to go fast, I reef down at 15. If the wind is 20, I don't go out.

 

[James Williams]

How much is too much!

I read your question and the answers with interest. I wonder how much this boat can heel without going over. This may seem like a naive question but I am a new sailor and would like to know the boat's limits.

 

[David]

What size jib ?

Mike,I just bought an'80 O'Day 23. (I'm very new to sailing.)It just has the original main and jib. What size jib do you use. As you say, reef early, but I would still have my jib up. What do you do?David