Well Spent 6 days sailing last week. Had a tremendous time. Seen lots of seals some humpbacks some porpoises plenty of otters. Walked up to with-in 10 feet of a an eagle and didn't have a camera.
Well thanks to those that suggested getting a Loose Gage. I had trouble controlling the boat last year in higher winds. Now I don't know if it was tighter rigging or me having more experience and knowledge but I was able to sail in 20+ knott winds. Last year I would of had to tuck the sails between my legs and motored. Last year I always had bad lee helm. This year I had weather helm like your supposed to.
So that leads me to some questions. Although there were 20 k winds I could not get over 3 knots beating. Down wind I could get up to hull speed. I tried to keep the heel to less then 25 degrees. I did get blown over to 40 a couple times. Any ideas why I was going so slow?
I did try different sail configurations. Full sails,full head reefed main, just head sail, just main sail. 3 knots 3.5 knots was best I could do. Best speed was with full sails but keeping the heel under control was a lot of work.
I did get to use the Gennie a lot. The first time ever! Boat seemed to sail real nice with it. I didn't try a beat with it but did do a close reach with it. Wing to wing with it. Used the jib pole for that. And a lot of broad reach with. I did see the benefits of a broad reach to a dead run. lots more speed. I did notice the leach of my Genoa had a small line running the length of it and at the clew there was a clam cleat. Obviously it was for tightening the leach. But why would you want to do this? And does the jip pole just hook over the sheet at the clew? That worked for me but wasn't sure as I hear a lot of using guy lines.
I also notice my main sail leaves the boom hanging a little low maybe 5 degrees. And no matter how I tighten vang, out-haul, halyard the sail has a pretty good belly in it. Is that normal or is sail about shot?
Well not wanting this to get to long I will ask more things later and/or in more appropriate forums. Greg
Well thanks to those that suggested getting a Loose Gage. I had trouble controlling the boat last year in higher winds. Now I don't know if it was tighter rigging or me having more experience and knowledge but I was able to sail in 20+ knott winds. Last year I would of had to tuck the sails between my legs and motored. Last year I always had bad lee helm. This year I had weather helm like your supposed to.
So that leads me to some questions. Although there were 20 k winds I could not get over 3 knots beating. Down wind I could get up to hull speed. I tried to keep the heel to less then 25 degrees. I did get blown over to 40 a couple times. Any ideas why I was going so slow?
I did try different sail configurations. Full sails,full head reefed main, just head sail, just main sail. 3 knots 3.5 knots was best I could do. Best speed was with full sails but keeping the heel under control was a lot of work.
I did get to use the Gennie a lot. The first time ever! Boat seemed to sail real nice with it. I didn't try a beat with it but did do a close reach with it. Wing to wing with it. Used the jib pole for that. And a lot of broad reach with. I did see the benefits of a broad reach to a dead run. lots more speed. I did notice the leach of my Genoa had a small line running the length of it and at the clew there was a clam cleat. Obviously it was for tightening the leach. But why would you want to do this? And does the jip pole just hook over the sheet at the clew? That worked for me but wasn't sure as I hear a lot of using guy lines.
I also notice my main sail leaves the boom hanging a little low maybe 5 degrees. And no matter how I tighten vang, out-haul, halyard the sail has a pretty good belly in it. Is that normal or is sail about shot?
Well not wanting this to get to long I will ask more things later and/or in more appropriate forums. Greg
