Too tippy?

[Tom P]

The mast is wet

I've had 3 sailboats. I started with a snark, graduated to a 16' Mutineer set up for racing and then an O'day 222. The 16' was fun to go all out with the keel almost out of the water. It slowed down a lot and was hard to control the rudder, but wow what fun. The O'day, my wife informed me was not to be treated that way and as I am still married, I was obedient like a good husband. She never wanted the "little ball thingy" to go past 10 or 12 degrees.

 

[Steve]

Fun!!!

Sailing is about fun! About 20 - 25 degrees on my Catalina 34 is optimal fun, and anything beyond that starts slowing the boat down anyway. Have had it to about 37 degrees, but that was about the time we rounded up....

 

[Bill Vickery]

Is it possible?

Is it possible to knock down a Cat 22....outside of gale force winds?

 

[Tom S.]

Jack, that pic was taken when I got back

to the dock.It was about 3 weeks ago in nearly perfect conditions when I got my C36 up to 8.9 + knots speed through the water. I know that it was a *very* rare event - the stars were aligned --- I have two witness that were on the boat. I kept telling my non-sailing friends on the boat and making a big deal. I don't think they "really* understood why I was so excited. We were out and sailing good when they asked me "how fast I could get the boat going," I told them (7.5k?)and they said "Lets try". The winds were howling 18-22 and the seas were flat. I was in the middle of the LISound and I just kept falling off and tweaking the sails.It was amazing, when I got the sails just right I felt the boat "surge" ahead, it was awesome, It felt like the boat had a "turbo" all of a sudden. I just kept feeling the boat pick up speed.....I didn't care which way I was going ....whatever was the fastest angle.....I saw it creep up to 7.5, 7.9, 8.2, 7.9, 8.5, 8.3, 8.5, 8.7, 8.3....I was solidly above 8.3 knots for a while. I can't recall the exact wind speed, it was somewhere around 20knots (not sure if that was true or apparent at the time), but I do recall I was sailing at around 90 to 100 degrees to the wind. I had my 135% completely out and a full mainsail.Now you might ask if my knotmeter was calibrated, and yes I do believe its as close as possible. In fact, the GPS was saying above 9 ( there was some tidal current from LI Sound in my direction ~ .2 to .3 knots at the time, but I'm not sure I was 100% parallel to the current at the time either). Plus I checked the knotmeter later that day in the slack tide of the harbor and it was right about on to the GPS.My highest speeds have always been without a chute....probably because I am a chicken & only have a cruising chute for light winds

 

[Don]

Too much Heel

I feel there is too much heel when the gunnals are undr water.

 

[Steve Smith]

Almost impossible

From what I've been told, most fixed keel boats are almost impossible to knock down (permanently). You might end up with a cockpit and cabin full of water, but the heavy keel will eventually right you.

 

[Alan]

Tom

I think that weekend was the Manhasset Fall Series. It was howling at times. We clipped 14.3kts under spinnaker and full main. At one point we outran most of the J 105 fleet to the weather mark. What a damn ride!!

 

[LakeShadow]

semi-trapeze

My favorite sailing is during a wind advisory with 20 30 mph gusts! It's too much only if you can't keep the boat from capsizing. I like it best when sitting on TOP of the windward side of the boat comfortably. It takes just the right balance in the gusty winds of a lake to keep from "falling off" the wind or going over for a swim.

 

[Steve]

Hey Steve

That is a gorgeous boat. I would have fun on that no matter WHAT the heel angle was!Steve

 

[Tom S.]

Knockdown on a keel boat? Its possible

but really depends on the keelboat. I've seen race pictures where the lighter ones with a spinakker up can.Take a look here -- Yes its rare, but not unheard ofhttp://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/03/contest/gallery/images/9.jpghttp://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/03/contest/gallery2/images/129.jpgTake a look at this web site -- lots of neat pictures http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/03/contest/gallery2/index.asp

 

[Serenity NOW]

Best way to learn

Heel is all about knowing your boat and knowing your personal sailing skill. Try a Hobie Cat for a summer and you'll acquire the "feel for heel."Check out the photo and you'll see a recent So Cal sunset with my second mate in the lower left corner. She's 83 years young and loves to heel.

 

[dan]

excellent advice from Serenity

I learned to sail on a Prindle 16. any beach cat will teach you in a hurry about heel, ballast, trim, and weather helm! a couple times into the water and you soon learn about the "sweet spots"!

 

[Steve]

Steve from WA

Thanks Steve! I appreciate the compliment. If you ever get to the Memphis, TN area let me know. We'll take Suzie-Q out for a spin!

 

[..Bob]

Hey Mac..

Reference your picture, where can I getone of those for my boat. *pop

 

[Stu Jackson]

Bob, you'll have to...

...build your own!Stu

 

[Charlie McCollum]

too much hel

The heel indicator on our boat is stuck at ten degrees to port. At first my wife didn't know that it was stuck. We were scooting over pretty good seas in Charlotte Harbor and my wife said that the heel seemed exceessive. I pointed to the heel indicator and pinted it out that the heel was only ten degrees. "Ridem cowboy" I only wished that I could have stayed on that run for hours.

 

[Steve]

Steve

You got it, pal! ;DSteve

 

[Alan Johnson]

I'll find out this weekend

The forecast for Sunday here is 20+ mph wind. I plan to go out with my brother, an experienced sailor (but also a thrill seeking maniac) on my recently purchased Oday 25. I've had her at about 20 degrees, but I'm thinking that Sunday will be the real test. When I told my wife the forecast, she said "cool." It should be a wild day. I hope she still thinks it's cool on Sunday night or I'll be sleeping on the boat.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Our Weekend Already Started

Alan and allWent out today. Catalina 34. San Francisco Bay. Not summer winds, but after a small front went through, northwest wind. Beautiful blue sky, apparent wind 19-24, close hauled, 110 jib, full main.20 - 25 degrees.Lovely.Stu

 

[Neil Braun]

oh my what a weekend!

My girlfriend and I went out for an overnighter this weekend and life was grand!We had STUNNING weather, perfect temp, and the only draw back was the anual Key West power boat races... they are an astoundingly LOUD and psycotic bunch.... and they can go anywhere from 100-200+ mph, and seem to enjoy buzzing sail boats....anyhow, the wind was great, so I got to mess about with some of the ideas in this thread some that I already knew and some I dident.it turns out that my Cape Dory can do about 12 knots in 25 knot wind if I keep the heel at or around 15 - 20 degrees, beyond that things "seem" to be faster and are much more exciting but not as eficient....There is a delicate ballence between heel, speed, and luffing and it can be felt with the sheets. I dont know how to put it into words, and it depends a lot on where the wind is coming from, but basicly you can feel the optimum spot as the sheets get tighter the boat seems to take off almost as though friction has reduced or something.I would mainly just like to say thanks for all the posts on this subject, the best thing out of the entire weekend is because of all of your abilitys to articulate things that I cant my girlfriend is now a sailor, and not just a passenger. I think that a lot of you, men AND women know how wonderfull that is for both of us.Thank you all VERY much!Cheers,Neilps, AVOID the key west power boat races at all costs, my ears and nerves are still messed up! there is nothing like being the hole in a 100+ mph donut!