Hunter 306 Only: Minimum wind conditions to cruise?

[Bedouin]

Hello all,

So, I calculated my 2002 Hunter 306's SA/D at 16.6 (probably more like 16.0 with the family onboard). I'm curious about other 306 owners' experience as to minimum and ideal wind conditions to cruise around 5-6 knots.

I sail on the Chesapeake, but I find that when there's no SCA then we barely get 3 knots, and when there is an SCA we get decent speed. Unfortunately, the latter concerns the Admiral more (the SCA, not the resulting speed). So typically, when an SCA is in effect she'll think twice before wanting to head out for a sail. Oh, and on the Bay there seem to be very few days between not enough wind and too much.

What I'm looking for is experience from other 306 owners (or very similar), ideally with in-mast furling, to see under what conditions you find it worth going out so i can put it into context. Example:"But honey, other 306 owners usually go out during an SCA because that's the only time a 306 makes more than 3 knots!"

Cheers!

 

[David in Sandusky]

We have two solutions to cruising in light winds:

1. We have a cruising spinnaker that drives us a knot or two below wind speed on any course 70 degrees or more off the wind.
2. We fire up the "iron genny" when the winds can't keep us around 4 knots (excluding occasional lulls). Our Yanmar easily drives us at 5.5 knots in light winds and waves.

We often have light winds on Lake Erie early on a summer day. Sometimes they build as the day goes on. Another approach is to catch the sea breeze that is quite strong within a mile of shore on a hot, otherwise calm summer day.

Finally, I think the Chesapeake is like The Lake Erie Islands, there is always a great anchorage within two or three hours where we can drop the hook, put up our sun cover, and relax regardless of the wind. We love a lazy day reading and napping on the hook!

 

[Bedouin]

Thanks, David! We don't have a spinnaker, but we certainly make plenty of use of our engine - too much, in fact. We enjoy the sailing part too much.

I guess I'm trying to persuade my wife of having nothing to worry about over an SCA if that's what most sailors with a boat like ours consider the minimum before even raising the sails. But perhaps it's as simple (albeit more expensive) as getting a spinnaker and a larger genoa vs our stock 100%).

Fun, fun, fun...

 

[Steve_Catalina]

Bedouin,

Our two boat are different, your is driven by the main and mine by the headsail, but I’ll provide my 2 cents with my experience.

I will use our asymmetrical spinnaker when sailing between 70-160 degrees off the wind
and with winds speed less than 10 knots and seas less than 2 feet.
Some days with the temperature in the low 90s we may just sail with our 155% headsail, because it’s just too hot to mess with the cruising sail.
I always assume a Small Craft Advisory (SCA) is for winds 18-33 knots, understanding that a combination of wind and seas contribute to that.

We are out every weekend between mid-April and late November we will reef between 16-18 knots for the head sail and are fine if the gusts are limited to 25. Once the gusts increase and winds are over 20 it’s not as much fun to go out. If we have been out and this is happening on Sunday, well we need to get home and we just handle it.

If the winds are 8-10 knots and seas less than two feet life is good, we will average 6.3 +knots on a beam reach and maybe a little less when going full to weather. With 10-12 knots the seas tend to pick up a bit and for the Chesapeake we will also get more chop especially if the wind direction has been the same for a couple of days. When all is said and done with weather like this a beam reach we will average 6.2-6.8 knots pretty consistent with some times over 7 knots without killing ourselves with constant sail shape and trim.

Just an observation, we (my wife and I) see many boats that are sailing with sails way to tight or over sheeted. Let them out and gradually bring them in allowing time for the boat to settle down to you sail trim, then make adjustments and look for how the boat reacts.

Steve

 

[Sailor_Jeff]

Hi Bedouin,

Just so I am straight about your question, and I am wanting to learn. I think an SCA or a small craft advisory is a type of warning issued by the National Weather Service. It is issued when winds have reached, or are expected to reach within 12 hours, a speed of 25 to 38 miles per hour (22 to 33 knots).

Now I may have totally misunderstood. So would like to ask, just to clarify,
Are you saying that you can't reach hull speed unless winds are 25 to 38 mph?

 

[Craig Cook]

The issue here may be that a SCA is different depending on where you are. Jeff is correct that it is issued by the National Weather Service. In our area (Lake Erie) we NEVER, EVER leave the dock if a SCA has been issued. For us an SCA means sustained winds of 25-33knts, or just below what is considered gale force, and seas 5'-7'. That's not even a point of discussion at our house or our club. Perhaps a SCA id different in your area, but I wouldn't want to be out on a 306 in 25 - 33knts in 5-7' seas on Lake Erie.