Hi, My wife and I purchased our first boat last May. We are both novice sailors and have not been able to get our Beneteau 343 to sail at sustained speeds greater than 5 knots. It seems like in light winds our limited sail size (negative roach of our furling main) is the contributing factor. In decent winds (15-20 knots) we have to reef our sails alot as we quickly lose control with our rather small keel (4'9"). Either way we are pretty slow going. I'm sure that our inexperience also contributes to our slowness, however I'd like to know if other beneteau owners are experiencing similar woes. Any suggestions are appreciated, Regards, Mustafa
Slow Beneteau 343
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In all likelihood,
it's you. Sorry but it's not the boat. Even with a furling main that boat should go a lot faster than that. Try not sheeting it in as hard. This is one of the common mistakes novices make. I'm sure you'll be faster next year.
it's you. Sorry but it's not the boat. Even with a furling main that boat should go a lot faster than that. Try not sheeting it in as hard. This is one of the common mistakes novices make. I'm sure you'll be faster next year.
Slow 343
It's your sail trim not the boat. We just spent 4 days sailing a 343 during a delivery and return from one of the sail shows. We sailed in conditions ranging in the 10 to 20 kt range. Your right about the need to reef early in heavier air, 20kts. Once the rudder lifts you'll lose control if too much sail is up. Reefing the main first seemed to help in 3-4'quartering seas. In lower wind conditions, 10-15 kts, we were able to consistently beat upwind at close to 7kts. We had the main sheeted fairly flat, with the traveler almost all the way to windward. The genny was sheeted in to about 3" off the lower spreader. The helm remained fairly well balanced with some rounding up in stronger puffs. We just allowed her to round up a bit then fell off when the puffs passed. We were chasing bigger boats and had to work hard to keep with them. Something we did fairly well for most the day. I'd pick up a book or two on sail trim and then go out and try some new things. Keep track of what you did, what worked, what didn't. Also try the web for which sails you have on the boat. Try "www.neilprydesails.com". That's what Beneteau put on my 361 and was on the 343 we sailed. The site has some very good tips on sail trim, especially for roller furling mains which are not know for their performance. It takes time to get to know your boat and how she'll respond to sail trim. Good luck.
It's your sail trim not the boat. We just spent 4 days sailing a 343 during a delivery and return from one of the sail shows. We sailed in conditions ranging in the 10 to 20 kt range. Your right about the need to reef early in heavier air, 20kts. Once the rudder lifts you'll lose control if too much sail is up. Reefing the main first seemed to help in 3-4'quartering seas. In lower wind conditions, 10-15 kts, we were able to consistently beat upwind at close to 7kts. We had the main sheeted fairly flat, with the traveler almost all the way to windward. The genny was sheeted in to about 3" off the lower spreader. The helm remained fairly well balanced with some rounding up in stronger puffs. We just allowed her to round up a bit then fell off when the puffs passed. We were chasing bigger boats and had to work hard to keep with them. Something we did fairly well for most the day. I'd pick up a book or two on sail trim and then go out and try some new things. Keep track of what you did, what worked, what didn't. Also try the web for which sails you have on the boat. Try "www.neilprydesails.com". That's what Beneteau put on my 361 and was on the 343 we sailed. The site has some very good tips on sail trim, especially for roller furling mains which are not know for their performance. It takes time to get to know your boat and how she'll respond to sail trim. Good luck.
Sail fast
One thing to remember about boats with the same basic hull design as yours--wide hull form, relatively shallow bilge--is that they like to be sailed fairly flat. That means maintaining a heel angle of about 15 degrees, maybe a bit more, but in any case not more than 20 degrees. It also helps to "foot off" a bit for speed instead of heading as high as you possibly can--you'll get there faster even though you travel farther. So get one of those gauges that measures heel angle, attach is just below the companion way on the boat's center line, and trim/reef your sails accordingly. If you keep the boat on it's feet it'll be comfortable even in heavy conditions--and so will you!
One thing to remember about boats with the same basic hull design as yours--wide hull form, relatively shallow bilge--is that they like to be sailed fairly flat. That means maintaining a heel angle of about 15 degrees, maybe a bit more, but in any case not more than 20 degrees. It also helps to "foot off" a bit for speed instead of heading as high as you possibly can--you'll get there faster even though you travel farther. So get one of those gauges that measures heel angle, attach is just below the companion way on the boat's center line, and trim/reef your sails accordingly. If you keep the boat on it's feet it'll be comfortable even in heavy conditions--and so will you!
Speeding up the boat
One of the things you may find very helpful is to take the boat out on a day with fairly steady wind, set a very steady helmsman or the autopilot on a particular course, and then look very carefully at the effect of adjustments. For example, last Sunday I was sailing my 323 with a novice crew at the wheel. We were traveling at about 4.2 knots on genoa alone in about 10 knots of wind. I adjusted the sheet not more than two feet and the boat speed increased by a full knot, while the apparent wind stayed pretty close to the same speed. Even after many years it is surprising sometimes to see the beneficial effects of the smallest tweaks in trim. This is also one case where any inaccuracy in your knotmeter does not matter much, since you are looking at relative, not absolute, speed.
One of the things you may find very helpful is to take the boat out on a day with fairly steady wind, set a very steady helmsman or the autopilot on a particular course, and then look very carefully at the effect of adjustments. For example, last Sunday I was sailing my 323 with a novice crew at the wheel. We were traveling at about 4.2 knots on genoa alone in about 10 knots of wind. I adjusted the sheet not more than two feet and the boat speed increased by a full knot, while the apparent wind stayed pretty close to the same speed. Even after many years it is surprising sometimes to see the beneficial effects of the smallest tweaks in trim. This is also one case where any inaccuracy in your knotmeter does not matter much, since you are looking at relative, not absolute, speed.
Measuring speed -- knotmeter or GPS?
When we purchased Dragonfly in 2003, we questioned the knotmeter reading from the start. We had a great day sailing in April, but rarely saw more than 5 knots on the knotmeter. I just knew we had to be going faster. Theoretical hull speed was 7.4. In May we had another great sail along side a buddy. When he returned to dock he was excited that we had been cruising along between 7.5 and 8 knots on his handheld GPS. We borrowed his GPS a couple of weeks later and calibrated the knotmeter. It was about 2 knot low. Also in light winds, try releasing the outhaul to give more body to the sail. As Ted noted, we feel Dragonfly leap forward in 10 knot winds by a slight move in the outhaul. Mark
When we purchased Dragonfly in 2003, we questioned the knotmeter reading from the start. We had a great day sailing in April, but rarely saw more than 5 knots on the knotmeter. I just knew we had to be going faster. Theoretical hull speed was 7.4. In May we had another great sail along side a buddy. When he returned to dock he was excited that we had been cruising along between 7.5 and 8 knots on his handheld GPS. We borrowed his GPS a couple of weeks later and calibrated the knotmeter. It was about 2 knot low. Also in light winds, try releasing the outhaul to give more body to the sail. As Ted noted, we feel Dragonfly leap forward in 10 knot winds by a slight move in the outhaul. Mark
GPS as speed measure
The GPS is likely to be perfectly accurate as to speed, but it is speed over ground, not speed through the water. The knotmeter measures speed through the water. You still should probably use the knotmeter most of the time for sail trim, because it doesn't get confused by current and the like. Keep playing iwth it and I am sure it will speed up. And read some good books on sail trim while the boat is on the hard.
The GPS is likely to be perfectly accurate as to speed, but it is speed over ground, not speed through the water. The knotmeter measures speed through the water. You still should probably use the knotmeter most of the time for sail trim, because it doesn't get confused by current and the like. Keep playing iwth it and I am sure it will speed up. And read some good books on sail trim while the boat is on the hard.
Slow Benny
Mustafa: I feel bad when I see these questions from new boat owners because I know how frustratating it is trying to get the boat to sail efficiently. It is not the boat. Additionally, it is hard to learn to sail by trial and error. The same applies to golf or tennis - instructions make the learning process easy. The problem for most beginner to intermediates sailors is how to use the sail trim controls for the main and jib. It is similiar to adjusting the 4 jets on carb in a carb - they have to be in balance for the car to perform efficiently. Same with your sail trim controls. There is a particular setting for each sail for each point of sail and wind condition. You can't find the setting by guess work and if you don't get it right you will never get the performance you are seeking. The next question you might ask is OK so what are these settings? Here is my suggestion. Pop on over to the SAIL TRIM FORUM on this site and present some of your questions there. You will get some excellent and expert advise. When you get over to the forum check out my sail trim chart. All the settings for your main and jib for every point of sail and wind condition are on this chart.
Mustafa: I feel bad when I see these questions from new boat owners because I know how frustratating it is trying to get the boat to sail efficiently. It is not the boat. Additionally, it is hard to learn to sail by trial and error. The same applies to golf or tennis - instructions make the learning process easy. The problem for most beginner to intermediates sailors is how to use the sail trim controls for the main and jib. It is similiar to adjusting the 4 jets on carb in a carb - they have to be in balance for the car to perform efficiently. Same with your sail trim controls. There is a particular setting for each sail for each point of sail and wind condition. You can't find the setting by guess work and if you don't get it right you will never get the performance you are seeking. The next question you might ask is OK so what are these settings? Here is my suggestion. Pop on over to the SAIL TRIM FORUM on this site and present some of your questions there. You will get some excellent and expert advise. When you get over to the forum check out my sail trim chart. All the settings for your main and jib for every point of sail and wind condition are on this chart.
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