This will get the brain waves going ( I hope) I have sailed the 260 for a few years and have always been of the opinion that she sails faster on a port tack rather than starboard. Probably at the weekend, in all the years I have sailed her, the wind was just perfect. A consistant blow all day with next to nil variance. No puffs or gusts so an ideal opportunity to test my thoughts and yes she does sail faster on a port tack. So the million dollar question. Why??? The rigging I believe is spot on!
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most boats have favorite tack
Sure the hull is symetrical, but then the designers get going and build an interior - water tanks on one side, galley on the other, etc. Then owners load them up with stuff. In the end, the weight profile is not the same on each tack, which effects how far the boat heels, which impacts water line and wetted surface which means that the boat sails faster on one tack. It is worse on the big boats where the interior is even more likely to be skewed
Sure the hull is symetrical, but then the designers get going and build an interior - water tanks on one side, galley on the other, etc. Then owners load them up with stuff. In the end, the weight profile is not the same on each tack, which effects how far the boat heels, which impacts water line and wetted surface which means that the boat sails faster on one tack. It is worse on the big boats where the interior is even more likely to be skewed
How Much faster?
You might try measuring speed with a GPS to be sure the heel angle isn't affecting the knotmeter paddlewheel. I bet if you take your boat into the northern hemisphere, it will sail faster on the slow tack...
You might try measuring speed with a GPS to be sure the heel angle isn't affecting the knotmeter paddlewheel. I bet if you take your boat into the northern hemisphere, it will sail faster on the slow tack...
Mark, how much diff. port vs stbd?...
Are you perhaps at different angles to the wind (pinching a little more on stbd?). Did you try a beam reach on both tacks? Some day I'd like to create a polar diagram for my boat: Speed vs point of sail. And for different wind strengths. Has anyone tried this? Fair winds, Tom
Are you perhaps at different angles to the wind (pinching a little more on stbd?). Did you try a beam reach on both tacks? Some day I'd like to create a polar diagram for my boat: Speed vs point of sail. And for different wind strengths. Has anyone tried this? Fair winds, Tom
Opposite Tacks
Mark, An additional thought - echoing the previous post - you need to be sure you are sailing the same apparent wind angle on both tacks in this test. Depending upon how you're setting the angle, you might have differing results. One way would be to stop the boat and note the wind direction on the compass by heading directly into the wind. Then use a compass heading either side of the wind (assuming it's fairly steady) of about 50 or 60 degrees. I'd be interested to know the difference then. There are so many variables it will be hard to identify one cause if there's a significant difference.
Mark, An additional thought - echoing the previous post - you need to be sure you are sailing the same apparent wind angle on both tacks in this test. Depending upon how you're setting the angle, you might have differing results. One way would be to stop the boat and note the wind direction on the compass by heading directly into the wind. Then use a compass heading either side of the wind (assuming it's fairly steady) of about 50 or 60 degrees. I'd be interested to know the difference then. There are so many variables it will be hard to identify one cause if there's a significant difference.
On the 260...
Engine, batteries, galley / cooler all on starbaord as delivered by factory... enough said
Engine, batteries, galley / cooler all on starbaord as delivered by factory... enough said
All the weight
I agree with Darren. The 26.5 is set up the same way...the engine, battery, and cooler all sit on starboard. When sitting at the dock (on a still day) you can see that the boat doesn't sit level. This has to have some effect on the tacks. I've also found that when pinching hard, the motor can drag in the water.
I agree with Darren. The 26.5 is set up the same way...the engine, battery, and cooler all sit on starboard. When sitting at the dock (on a still day) you can see that the boat doesn't sit level. This has to have some effect on the tacks. I've also found that when pinching hard, the motor can drag in the water.
Same w/ 25.5
I put everything I can on the port side, but it still has that slight starboard list. Maybe I should buy a heavy 4-stroke outboard. ;-)
I put everything I can on the port side, but it still has that slight starboard list. Maybe I should buy a heavy 4-stroke outboard. ;-)
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