On the wind

btfag0s · Jul 6, 2010

Just the usual:
- cut down on the weight you are carrying
- clean bottom
- flat jib
- reef the main early

Alisdair
V752

brockhaus77 · Jul 6, 2010

Check the archives of this list - there are lots of discussions on the pointing ability of the Vega (some rather opinionated, as is to be expected!). I find that the limitation (in my case) is usually the minimum angle one can set the genoa at (if you have one) - it has to go around all shrouds. Maybe if you have a small and flat jib that allows you to lead the sheets inside the shrouds, you could point higher? With a genoa, I would not expect to get closer than 45 degrees to the true wind, and that's already under ideal conditions (10-15 knots, in my limited experience; at lower windspeed, you have to crack off a little more). Also note that your actual motion relative to the water is not exactly where you point - some sideways drift is unavoidable in a sail boat that is close-hauled), and currents may make things even worse (or better

If you get much worse than that, it may be that you need to improve sail trim, rig tension and/or even look at new sails. Again, LOTS of posts on all of this in the archive and the file section of this list...

- Sebastian (VegaLyra 1060)

(P.S.: One truly heretic observation - at least to some ;-) : If you have only the main up, and run the motor for additional power, you can point a lot closer than under sail alone and still get some benefit from the wind. As far as I know, in addition to being a "pocket cruiser", the Vega was also designed as a "motor sailer"...after all, Albin wanted to sell its engine!)

pjacobs55 · Jul 6, 2010

The biggest single improvement I noticed was when I replaced the old baggy sails with new ones ... it was like having a different boat. That said, she still won't point as high as a fin keel boat.

Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'

dougpol1 · Jul 6, 2010

Scott I don't know what your expectations are but rwmwber this your boat
was designed in the mid 1960's she was designed to be pretty much an all
purpose sailor for the northern waters of the Atlantic. It is exactly
because of this that she suits so many people. She does almost
everything really well. She won't point and sail on the wind with the
most modern racing boats. She does a lot of other things far better
than they will. If one of those fat modern racers is beating to
windward it is primarily because he is sailing a skimming dish with a
little bit of keel. Most of us would not be happy with his boat as a
cruising boat and he likely would not be happy with a cruising boat at
all. Doug

dougpol1 · Jul 6, 2010

Scott I don't know what your expectations are but rwmwber this your boat
was designed in the mid 1960's she was designed to be pretty much an all
purpose sailor for the northern waters of the Atlantic. It is exactly
because of this that she suits so many people. She does almost
everything really well. She won't point and sail on the wind with the
most modern racing boats. She does a lot of other things far better
than they will. If one of those fat modern racers is beating to
windward it is primarily because he is sailing a skimming dish with a
little bit of keel. Most of us would not be happy with his boat as a
cruising boat and he likely would not be happy with a cruising boat at
all. Doug

j.hunter9999 · Jul 6, 2010

I decided to bend the original mainsail this year, as well as run for a season without the furler. The original mainsail and the original non-furling sail inventory are all 35 years old. As such, I noticed that she doesn't point quite as well as with the newer 155 and full batten/newer mainsail. However, she is easier to balance and I find I can often sail with only a bungee tied to the cleats and tiller.

So, I second Peter's advice. Newer sails will help. Also, a full batten mainsail will help. At what wind speed are you having the most problems? Depending on the wind conditions, I find that I can point to about 45 degrees off the wind...sometimes even less than 45. But at low winds (below 8 knots), it tends to drop off a bit.

Jack

wxt8981 · Jul 13, 2010

Hi.:
I've sailed my VEGA over a period of over 30 years; I've entered many regattas
and have many 1st, and 2nd finish trophies. There were only a few similar boats
I had to look at their stern. (One being the 25 ft. Catalina, she's better in
light air).
What to do for being better? Tack (jibe) at the right time, stay out from being
shadowed from another boat, learn to get up the spinnaker in record time, and
never give up. When you made a mistake, learn from it. And watch the wind! As
for the boat, make sure your sails are balanced; too much weather helm makes the
rudder acting as a brake.

Happy sailing, Wilhelm
________________________________
From: Scott Johnson johnsons185@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, July 12, 2010 5:48:00 PM
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Re: On the wind

Thanks for the many helpfull replies as usual, i got new sails last year and it
has made a differance for sure i tend to struggle in a bit of a blow but i know
i need to work on my sail plan ie a smaller foresail (maybe next years
expenditure). I was just curious to see if there was anything other people may
be doing that i am not, i will read all the previous posts/blogs on this.

Douglas i know that the vega's are an older design and i would not compare the
windward capabilities to a keel boat, but i see no harm im trying to achieve the

best i can from her with a little help from experiance!

regards

scott
891

________________________________
From: j.hunter9999 j.hunter9999@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, July 7, 2010 2:51:48 AM
Subject: [AlbinVega] Re: On the wind

I decided to bend the original mainsail this year, as well as run for a season
without the furler. The original mainsail and the original non-furling sail
inventory are all 35 years old. As such, I noticed that she doesn't point quite
as well as with the newer 155 and full batten/newer mainsail. However, she is
easier to balance and I find I can often sail with only a bungee tied to the
cleats and tiller.

So, I second Peter's advice. Newer sails will help. Also, a full batten mainsail

will help. At what wind speed are you having the most problems? Depending on the

wind conditions, I find that I can point to about 45 degrees off the
wind...sometimes even less than 45. But at low winds (below 8 knots), it tends
to drop off a bit.

Jack

stevebirch2002 · Jul 14, 2010

Hi Wilhelm

Well said, couldnt of put it better.

Or

Practice, practice, practice and more practice.....

Steve B