Um, actually, how about "learn to sail"? That is, learn to trim the
boat for speed. Although I've been at this stuff for a while, every so
often someone will come up with a suggestion on trimming which
materially improves OWTW's performance. And I still remember sea trials
in OWTW where the sales guy trimmed the boat so she really flew in next
to no air. He was an odd duck in some ways (had seven sets of exactly
the same clothes so he never had to think about what he would wear on
the job) but his trimming skills are amazing. Heck, if he were in the
area, I'd probably see if he had time for a trimming seminar. [grin]

Sail handling gear helps, too. Our traveller isn't the best design
going but in lighter air, where the car can be shifted readily, getting
the car and main sheet right can add a half knot or more to the boat's
speed. The same is true for the jib's sheets - getting draft and sheet
tension right can pay big dividends. Earlier this year we used our
yankee and jib staysail while the usual 135 genny was off for repairs.
We were surprised at the speed we could get once we got the trim right
by moving the sheet cars around.

A clean bottom and a clean prop does make a difference. Choose a bottom
paint that holds back slime as well as barnacles (what works in one area
may not work in another so local info does count). If at all possible,
go over the side and clean the prop and wipe the hull down (or maybe
find someone on the dock who'll do it - commercial divers are fine, too,
but can get pricey). But I'd leave trowling, wet sanding, and so on for
the "go fast" brigade - a good fair bottom and a well applied coat of
paint work just fine.

Finally, while larger sails and sticks have their advantages, we found
that just getting good "normal" sails made a world of difference.
Trying to nurse OWTW along on dead, baggy sails was a problem; a new
suit of sails, all to the original sizes, is faster and the boat stands
up where before she'd be on her ear in even relatively moderate winds.

But if nothing else, I'd invest time in getting what's already on board
working to its best - it's cheaper and the results might be all that's
hoped for.

Rick Emerson
S/V One With The Wind, Baba 35

Rick Beddoe wrote:

>Jack,
>
>You can find some info about this on the Cruising World BBS - www.cruisingworld.com.
>
>The best thing seems to be a standard answer: bigger sails. That includes a large genoa (you may want to consider a removeable inner stay attachment) and possibly a mainsail with larger roach w/full battens and battcars. If you're really looking for light air performance, add 5' to the mast [g].
>
>Below the waterline, change your prop to a feathering prop, put a lot of effort into fairing your hull. Don't use a roller to apply paint, use a trowel.
>[...]
>
>



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Received on Fri Jul 29 09:16:56 2005