Racing a H26

[Rhett 26]

Hello,

I own a 1996 Hunter 26 that I began sailing two years ago, mostly casual day sailing with family and friends which, in my opinion, this boat is absolutely perfect for.

Recently I have been doing some beer can racing at our YC. I am clearly not the most skilled skipper at our club but I am also having doubts about this boat's ability to keep up with the pack. The boat has a newer 150 genoa in fair shape and I think the original Doyle mainsail. The other boats- J22's, 24's, Catalinas, Ensigns and other boats I am not sure of, seem to be able to sail much closer to the wind and are just plain much faster. I realize this boat was not built for speed but I am wondering what my options are. I am looking for guidance on purchasing new sails and wondering how much improvement to expect. Also, any other tips regarding racing with this boat would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Alan]

Let me try to put things into preservative for you. The other boats you mention are clearly faster than your boat, a lot faster. Having said that you do have one thing on your side, a high handicap to go with your boat. If you optimize your boat and learn to sail it well to its strengths you will begin to do well against your competition.
First and foremost, OK sails are just not good enough for racing. You need a well made set with all the controls you can get to beat these guys. The 150 is not going to help you in the least. Buy a decksweeping 110 and a code zero asymmetrical. The 110 should NOT be a roller furling design.
Remove absolutely all weight from the boat when racing. No pots & pans, dishes, gear bags, nothing. The weight savings will pay huge dividends.
Make sure the bottom is both faired and super clean. A weeks worth of slime is worth a half knot of boat speed. Make sure the engine is completely up and out of the water. Take all weight off the bow. Move the anchor to the keel. Empty all tanks.

Lastly, go practice tacking the boat. Do it until you can tack with less than 1 knot of boat speed lost in the tack. Sail your boat not theirs. They can point higher than you can, don't even try to match them. Sail your boat on her best angles and you will surprise yourself and them at how well you correct against them.

 

[soling42]

That was some great advice for racing AND for making good time cruising too. Can't say when I've heard a better summary of how to get the most improvement out of what you have.

If we were racing and took all the cruising pork off ours it'd come out of the water at least 2-3" and gain that 1/2 knot. Cruisers/day sailors are the worst at getting insidious creep from porkage. Every hatch on our 260 is now brimming with "needed" stuff, unfortunately it's almost always too much trouble to dig out when I want it. I never considered a little slime a problem but will revisit mine soon. Sail adjustment on a 260/26 is pretty limited but should still be tended to as the day demands.

Cruising OR racing it's always nice to know that you're making good time in what you have. Our fleet knows I used to race and constantly harasses me to join them but my boat is so overstuffed for comfort that I'm better crew than anything. Alans right about a handicapped race with your 26. Clean it up, clean it out, trim it in and go get 'em.

Above all have fun, Mike

 

[Rhett 26]

Thanks Alan and Mike! That is exactly the type of advice I was looking for. I love the boat for cruising and my goal for racing is to upgrade what is necessary to make the most of what I have, but not get carried away spending money on it....not that I've ever done that before.

 

[C Jones]

Rhett 26, 1st off welcome to this site and racing your Hunter 26. I race my h23 on a regular basis. Take all of Alan's advice. His advice has helped me in my racing beyond words. You are going to find out soon its the boats Captain and not the boat that wins. Sure The J-Boats are faster, so what. Like Alan said your ratings kick in. I consistantly win over faster boats. I usually beat them straight up. For example
h22 phrf 255, this boat gives me more problems than any boat on the lake
h23 phrf 254 my boat
h23.5 phrf 246- 3 of these never close
h260 phrf 216- 2 of these never close
Ranger 22 phrf 222- 1 of these never close
Bene first 235 phrf 195- 3 of these sometimes close
Catalina 22 phrf 270 never close
Catalina 25 phrf 225 sometimes close
Catalina 27 phrf 207 sometimes close
We have a lot of race boats but they sail in "A" fleet and these boats I listed above sail with me in "B" fleet
Alan advised you to pratice tacking, Thats very good advice but try it alone, single handed for a while. When you can do it perfect alone, single handed, then you can teach your crew to do it perfect.
I race single handed about 1/3 of the time. Sometimes my crew does not show up, I go out anyway. My crew is always friends and few can handle tacking in race conditions. But we are practicing.
I have a slow boat and the only boat that gives me problems, the h22 is as slow as me.
Good luck and keep us posted, Charles

 

[Bilgewater]

Rhett 26 - Welcome aboard. I, too, race my 95' h26 at a local yacht club, usually singlehanded. My jib is two years old, with roller furling. The main is original, but was re-conditioned last year. The bottom is reasonably clean, but not spotless. Not too much excess stuff on board, but some. We have several Catalinas and O'Days, 22 to 26 feet, that I'm usually neck and neck with, depending on how well I do at the start. I have found that I can hold my own or pass other boats beating upwind, but then lose the lead to them down wind. Since I don't have a traveler, I rig a line from the end of the boom around the upwind rear cleat, and then to my hand. I adjust sail shape with the vang and the outhaul, tighten the sheet, and then use the line to center the boom when close hauled. I can dump the main in a gust and still maintain sail shape. The boat doesn't like dead down wind at all. I retract the centerboard and try and jibe on a zig-zag course to keep the jib effective, but the other boats usually pull away. I have a whisker pole for the jib, but that needs a crew to handle. I agree that you beat other skippers, not other boats. I've only been racing for two years, and every day is a learning event. But I watch the veterans, talk tactics at the bar afterward, and try and get better each time. I never pass up the chance to pick up a seasoned crew member. A great way to learn. We have a husband and wife team on an Alden 23 that are pretty much unbeatable. But two weeks ago they made a mistake at a mark, got headed up, and stalled out against the bouy. I tried to contain my glee as I passed them cleanly for the first time ever!

 

[C Jones]

Rhett26 and Bilge Water, I set my whisker pole alone all the time. I have the advantage of knowing my exact course and sail setting simply by watching the "A" fleet boats who are always ahead of us except at the start. When I round the windward mark and fall off for my reach/run, I just set the tiller tamer, go forward set my pole then return to the tiller and set my jib sheet. The only difference is I am about 5 Deg. off the "A" fleet boats course. Yes I lose more than 1 knot of speed but I soon regain my loss with the advantage of the whisker pole and having wings set. Practice setting the pole single handed. It only takes 30 seconds or so with a little practice. I have the pole, sheet end forward laying on deck inside my shrouds. I pull it from my cabin a few minutes before the mark. Practice this, it makes a huge difference on your run. Those other boats you mentioned won't easily take your hard earned lead anymore. Charles