Hunter 18....pointing problems?? Mainsail too low or weeds on rudder or centerboard?

[duganderson]

I'm in a sailing club and we have several Hunter 18s. I've noticed problems pointing Hunter 18s when the following have occurred.

1. The mainsail gets stuck and does not get all of the way up (12-16 inches below correct height)
2. Weeds on the rudder
3. Weeds on the centerboard.

I've noticed when any of these happen, I have a hard time pointing and the boat falls off past a beam reach regardless of rudder input. Does this make sense? Why would any of these lead to problems pointing? Any articles or videos explaining this would be welcome.

When I fixed these issues, the boat seems to sail fine. I'm just trying to better understand why this would occur.

 

[dlochner]

No boat sails well with weeds on the rudder or centerboard. Clear the weeds.

Like wise no boat sails well if the sails are not installed correctly which includes getting a proper hoist. If the sail isn't hoisting correctly, clean the track and the sail slugs. Tracks are favorites haunts for spiders and collect grit and grime making a full hoist difficult to obtain.

On a related note, old baggy mainsails do not help pointing or sailing fast.

 

[Davidasailor26]

The sails, centerboard, and rudder are all foils. Like an aircraft’s wings they need reasonably smooth fluid flow over both sides to generate lift. When a centerboard or rudder is fouled with growth or weeds the water flow is disrupted, like an airplane in need of deicing. Water flow will separate and the foils won’t generate any lift, only drag. Drag is a very inefficient way to keep the boat from moving sideways or keeping it pointed the right way. Similarly if the main isn’t at full hoist it will not have its designed shape. It will have all the curvature in the wrong places and rather than pulling the boat forward it will pull sideways or just luff and produce no force.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Are other daysailors experiencing the same thing? Hydrilla in the water?