Thoughts on Increased Performance Under Sail...

[braol]

A recent post asking about moving the traveller sparked some thinking on the issue of sailing performance increases for my old Hunter 27. From a performance standpoint...I am not sure how much increased performance my slow and heavy boat (1978 H27) would realize. I am of the impression that a heavier cruiser has little to gain/lose when it comes to traveller position....and very little overall, especially when it comes to any one thing.
That being said, just like everybody else I am always wondering how much 'extra' I could get out of my boat. On ocasion I have noticed that if I pull my boom midline with my hand from the end (just above my head in my boat) I can actually point maybe a few degrees higher and the boat seems to go a little better from a seat-of-the pants perspective. It is hard to quantify your pants though. I believe that it is probably the totality of all the little changes one could make that add up to markedly increased performance.
Just like with a car...just bolting on a performance air filter does not a race car make. (Or a loud exhaust...but let's not get me started on that one...) Unfortunately on a sailboat curiosity kills the pocket book. Between racing sails, carbon fiber everything, glass smooth bottom paint, and V-100 line at $3.49 a foot I estimated that I could probably spend over $20,000 and probably not realize very much improvement. And, really, racing sails and carbon fiber on a cruising sailboat!?
My real big question has to do with overall pointing ability. Do you get the biggest improvement from 1)insuring ideal sheeting angles/slot effect of your sails (jib slide cars/track) or 2)from achieving ideal sail shape from the fine-tuning controls (back-stay tension, etc...)?

 

[Stu Jackson]

On ocasion I have noticed that if I pull my boom midline with my hand from the end (just above my head in my boat) I can actually point maybe a few degrees higher and the boat seems to go a little better from a seat-of-the pants perspective. It is hard to quantify your pants though. I believe that it is probably the totality of all the little changes one could make that add up to markedly increased performance.

What you're describing is adjusting the angle of attack. What you say is actually the right way to sail the boat, it isn't cheating.

You might be interested in Don Guillette's Sail Trim Book and Chart, available right here on this website. It is by far the BEST sail trim book I've ever read, and I rarely use "the best" in anything having to do with boating.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Pretty sure that the location of the traveler has nada to do with the performance of the boat. It may make trimming the mainsail shape easier or harder and you might break the boom if you put it too far forward but the angle of attack is the angle of attack. How you get it is irreverent.

 

[thinwater]

I think Bralo is saying that if he centers the boom he points higher. Yes, that would be a typical windward setting. Perhaps we can imply that his traveler does not allow windward positioning, which is needed to get the boom centered (I don't think he is asking about mid-boom sheeting). On small boats the traveler is sometimes set up that way.

Yes, having a traveler that adjusts above the center line can help sailing to windward in light and moderate conditions (in heavier winds it will be eased a little). Post a picture of the hardware; it may be a cheap conversion.

What is most important? I second reading a good book on trim, as there are too many factors for an internet discussion. That's why there are books.

Is there room for much improvement? Off the wind, perhaps not much, but up wind even small things make for leaps in distance made good.

And don't forget watching the weight, clean foils, and a clean bottom. Since windward ability is all about the lift-to-drag ratio, anything that reduces drag helps, and more lift underwater helps.

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Other than classes, one of the best ways to learn is to "race" other similar boats, even if they are not racing. It will allow you to judge if a tweak helps either speed or pointing, or if it makes things worse. GPS is good too, even a simple handheld; it can show you course over ground vs. compass, or how much you are skidding sideways; pointing must be measured by GPS, not compass.