I've had my 1987 H23 about a year and a half, but just started racing about 3 months ago and get beat like a drum. More experience is going to help me, but not being able to get closer to the wind than about 50 degrees seems to be my biggest problem. It seemed to me that my mast was raked much to far back in comparison to other boats slipped nearby, plus I seemed to have an excessive amount of weather helm. Taking a lot of the rake out helped the helm, but not the pointing. I need some suggestions please.
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Greg Stebbins
Pointing and Mast rake in a 23 - Ha, here we go!
Rake - Should be about 6.5 inches using the main halyard and a weight as measure. Sheet 110 jib inside shrouds. It looks funky on a reach but it improves pointing. Add adjustable traveler to main sheet system. By feathering the traveler, you can keep the boat flat and point higher. You really want the minimum possable heel angle on a 23. Other things to add to keep the boat on it's feet (flat). Adjustable back stay Cunningham Practice reefing/shake-out Generally, you should be able to point 45 off the wind at least. Greg H23 Faster- S2 9.2C Impulsive
Rake - Should be about 6.5 inches using the main halyard and a weight as measure. Sheet 110 jib inside shrouds. It looks funky on a reach but it improves pointing. Add adjustable traveler to main sheet system. By feathering the traveler, you can keep the boat flat and point higher. You really want the minimum possable heel angle on a 23. Other things to add to keep the boat on it's feet (flat). Adjustable back stay Cunningham Practice reefing/shake-out Generally, you should be able to point 45 off the wind at least. Greg H23 Faster- S2 9.2C Impulsive
I wished I had seen this sooner
I was out racing single-handed in 20+ knots on Saturday and I could barely keep the boat from trying to head up on a beam reach. The lee rail was buried even though I had eased the traveler, reefed the main and tried to play the sheet in the puffs. Looks like I need to work on my heavy-air sailing some more. No more lurking on the dock when the wind starts howling! Peter (my legs and hands still hurt) S/V Raven
I was out racing single-handed in 20+ knots on Saturday and I could barely keep the boat from trying to head up on a beam reach. The lee rail was buried even though I had eased the traveler, reefed the main and tried to play the sheet in the puffs. Looks like I need to work on my heavy-air sailing some more. No more lurking on the dock when the wind starts howling! Peter (my legs and hands still hurt) S/V Raven
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William Davis
Racing a H23
This is my second year racing my 86 Hunter 23. With lots of help from Cliff, I finally figured out how to make it go. I also had the same problems as you describe. Poor pointing and lots of weather helm. Here is what I did. Bring your mast rake up to someplace between 6"--10" rake (aft) Use a weight on the main halyard and hang just off the cabin top. If you are using a 110%, try to get a 135% (works best on my boat) I only use the 110% for very windy days (20+). Now here is the sailing skinny: DO NOT TRY TO POINT WITH THE FLEET!!! With the wing keel you are just slipping sideways and going slow. They killed me when I did this. Bring the boat up until the jib starts to luff, trim the main until the top batton is parallel with the boom. The main and jib should start to luff together, now slack off both just a few inches and fall off and go. Keep your speed up. Use your speed to out drive the fleet. I have been very secessfull this year sailing this way. Its very tough to fall off, crack the sheets and go, but force yourself. The 23 is quite fast if you follow these rules, also keep the boat on its feet like the others are saying. Good Luck and let us know how you are doing. Scott
This is my second year racing my 86 Hunter 23. With lots of help from Cliff, I finally figured out how to make it go. I also had the same problems as you describe. Poor pointing and lots of weather helm. Here is what I did. Bring your mast rake up to someplace between 6"--10" rake (aft) Use a weight on the main halyard and hang just off the cabin top. If you are using a 110%, try to get a 135% (works best on my boat) I only use the 110% for very windy days (20+). Now here is the sailing skinny: DO NOT TRY TO POINT WITH THE FLEET!!! With the wing keel you are just slipping sideways and going slow. They killed me when I did this. Bring the boat up until the jib starts to luff, trim the main until the top batton is parallel with the boom. The main and jib should start to luff together, now slack off both just a few inches and fall off and go. Keep your speed up. Use your speed to out drive the fleet. I have been very secessfull this year sailing this way. Its very tough to fall off, crack the sheets and go, but force yourself. The 23 is quite fast if you follow these rules, also keep the boat on its feet like the others are saying. Good Luck and let us know how you are doing. Scott
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Ernie Rogers
I'll let you know how it works.
Thanks for the replies! My e-mail address is ernierogers@flex.net Drop me a note with yours and I'll let you know how it works out. Thanks again. Ernie Rogers
Thanks for the replies! My e-mail address is ernierogers@flex.net Drop me a note with yours and I'll let you know how it works out. Thanks again. Ernie Rogers
Question for William
Do you have a Kenyon or Z-Spar mast? My Z-Spar is raked and bent per Cliff's suggestion but I still have weather helm when the wind gets to 20 kts, even with the main reefed and the backstay tight. I can only guess that excessive heel is to blame, because there isn't much weather helm until the lee rail gets close to the water. Help! I don't want to go home just because the wind pipes up! Peter S/V Raven
Do you have a Kenyon or Z-Spar mast? My Z-Spar is raked and bent per Cliff's suggestion but I still have weather helm when the wind gets to 20 kts, even with the main reefed and the backstay tight. I can only guess that excessive heel is to blame, because there isn't much weather helm until the lee rail gets close to the water. Help! I don't want to go home just because the wind pipes up! Peter S/V Raven
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Ernie Rogers
Cliff?
Cliff has been mentioned twice on this thread and cited as a good source of information. Is there an article of Cliff's concerning this subject that I should look up? Thanks again, Ernie
Cliff has been mentioned twice on this thread and cited as a good source of information. Is there an article of Cliff's concerning this subject that I should look up? Thanks again, Ernie
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Greg Stebbins
Cliff
Cliff Ruckstuhl Owned and raced a 23 for years. Moved up to a 25.5 for a while and now races a non-Hunter I believe. By searching on Cliff and/or Ruckstuhl you will get some informative posts.
Cliff Ruckstuhl Owned and raced a 23 for years. Moved up to a 25.5 for a while and now races a non-Hunter I believe. By searching on Cliff and/or Ruckstuhl you will get some informative posts.
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William Davis
RE-RE 23
My h23 has the Kenyon mast and boom. Looks to be pretty heavy duty. I also have weather helm when the boat is on the rail, but thats not how you want to race. Let the main luff if you gotta to keep the boat on its feet. This will let the jib do the pulling and keep you moving quickly. If you are on the rail, you are not going fast. In wind over say 20 kts, I go to my 110% jib anyway. Let me know how it works on your boat. Scott wsdavis@mindspring.com
My h23 has the Kenyon mast and boom. Looks to be pretty heavy duty. I also have weather helm when the boat is on the rail, but thats not how you want to race. Let the main luff if you gotta to keep the boat on its feet. This will let the jib do the pulling and keep you moving quickly. If you are on the rail, you are not going fast. In wind over say 20 kts, I go to my 110% jib anyway. Let me know how it works on your boat. Scott wsdavis@mindspring.com
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Bob Grogan
Racing Also
Hey Guys, I have also had my 86 h23 (Kenyon Mast) for about a year now, and just started racing in the club racing. So far We've taken fifth, fifth, fifth, and a DNF (Broken Shackle on Mainsheet assem.) out of 7 to 9 boats. I am in the progress of upgrading TWINKLE. Just added a Boom Vang. I plan to check the rake this weekend. And it sounds like a 135 Genny should be next. Let me know any other changes I should make. Oh yea I have a new epoxy bottom and i keep her on her trailer. New Racer Bob rgrogan@neocom.net
Hey Guys, I have also had my 86 h23 (Kenyon Mast) for about a year now, and just started racing in the club racing. So far We've taken fifth, fifth, fifth, and a DNF (Broken Shackle on Mainsheet assem.) out of 7 to 9 boats. I am in the progress of upgrading TWINKLE. Just added a Boom Vang. I plan to check the rake this weekend. And it sounds like a 135 Genny should be next. Let me know any other changes I should make. Oh yea I have a new epoxy bottom and i keep her on her trailer. New Racer Bob rgrogan@neocom.net
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