Racing Tips - PLEASE !

[Canuk111]

I have a 2005 Hunter 33. Can anyone give any racing tips?

1. The boat has a 29hp Yanmar engine with a 3 blade prop. I want to change the propellar to a 2 blade Martec feathering prop. Has anyone done this and how did it effect performence under sail and power ?

2.Any tips on how to get the boat to point?

 

[TR6]

Don't expect the boat to point as well as a J or a Beneteau first. It's primarily a cruiser. Get to know your boat well, find out what makes her tick. I race my '86 H31 all year and have had a lot of success against a variety of boats including some C&C's. BUT. I have also raced against another 86H31 and he had beaten be 4 times out of 5 on distance races. I guess he knows his boat better that I do mine.

You will find that with the windex showing slightly off a close reach will be a good point of sail, I can sail past a lot of boats on a reach but cannot point as well. I was by the side of a Beneteau First 30 a couple of weeks ago (not for ther first time) and he was consistently a couple of degrees closer to the wind than I can get. A J35 sails probably 3 to 5 degrees closer.

Work with the strengths and you will do well.

 

[nick8489]

I have a 2005 Hunter 33. Can anyone give any racing tips?

1. The boat has a 29hp Yanmar engine with a 3 blade prop. I want to change the propellar to a 2 blade Martec feathering prop. Has anyone done this and how did it effect performence under sail and power ?

2.Any tips on how to get the boat to point?

1. Don't try to point more than 35 deg. to apparent wind, keep up boat speed rather than pointing.
2. You must get a feathering or folding prop its worth a knot in some winds
3. Canal the factory main and go for a laminate with full battens and maximum roach.
4. Get an assymetric shute
5. Go for broke in wind speeds of 15 - 25 knots
6. Keep the hull clean (over here a diver does mine every couple of months or so for $50
7. Sailed well you should be able to beat a Bavaria or Bene 33/34 ft and easily if there is a lot of reaching in over 15 knots. If its on the nose you can only just keep up.
8. The biggest problem with the H33 is the small headsail and you can't do anything about it due the rigging B&R rigging. Basically I believe the mast is too far forward and if it had been placed a couple of feet back allowing a decent headsail then it would be a winner.

Don't get me wrong though its great boat and nothing gives more pleasure than surfing past others often much larger at 90 deg apparent doing over 8 knots in 20 knots of wind and desperately avoiding getting complety out of control when the big main takes over and the rudder is useles!

 

[TR6]

Agree with all of the above, particularly with the "hanging on when the main takes over" I have 2, 33.5's in the fleet. we're pretty much equal except down wind where my larger headsail comes into play and I pull away from both when running white sails only and often pull away when they are running their assyms.

Interestingly enough, the 33.5's seem to be identical, one does well, the other not so well ????.

I haven't had much success with an assym, I find that it gets blanketed by the main at just after beam reach, it wasn't worth the PHRF loss hence investing in a symmetrical chute which certainly makes down wind more than a beer run!

 

[saltygator]

I have a 93 Hunter 30, fractionally rigged also. Going upwind, remember the main is the driving force in this rig and should be trimmed through the puffs and lulls. Also, draft makes a tremendous difference in pointing ability of my boat. A loose-footed main really helped me with seeing the sail trim and getting the boat to point. I also agree with the statement, go for broke in winds 15-25, just drop the traveller in the gusts.

John

 

[356_Steve]

A couple of more points...

Don't be afraid to reef the boat while racing, especially above 15 knts of air. The boat slows down quickly when heeled too much. I have found that I walk away from the fleet when I do reef, and the other pretty much watch me do it without a clue.

I did put a 155% on my 326, and have one on my 356 now. I allows the boat to sail its rating in M&J, and it does point well. The boat does best in a beam reach, but it needs to keep up on any other point of sail to compete.

I would recommend a Flex-o-Fold or Gori folding over a Martec feathering. A bit more expensive, but you'll appreciate that when you back the boat under power. The prop will make the biggest difference for racing of any other thing suggested. It helps in light air, and in acceleration out of a manuver. The reduced drag will also help you point better.

Steve S.