[Public-List] Sailing technique

Tue Jul 20 03:30:07 PDT 2010

Hi Jon,

I've sailed on a lot of boats over the years, but my preference has always 
been narrower boats with relatively balanced ends and deep rudders like the 
Alberg.

I have sailed under full control while racing Albergs heeling as far over as 
55degrees, 'no time to reef mates, the mark is too close' - not efficient at 
that angle, but fully under control.

If you are heeling more than 25 degrees its time for a reef and maybe 
changing down to a smaller headsail.

A boat should always have some weather helm. Keeping the helm relatively 
balanced with mild to moderate weather helm is the most efficient.

I'll take an Alberg over any wide bottomed skimming dish any day - with 
their rudders ventilating, broaching and rounding up out of control.

At 24 knots of true wind the boat should have a reef in the main and the 
sail as flat as possible, with the traveler fully down and be carrying a 135 
to 105 jib.

You should never head down unless carrying a spinnaker, otherwise - head her 
up and reef.

The worst wind we've been in was the 85 knot line squall during the first 
Fujinon 300 mile race in 1990. We spent about 20 minutes knocked flat with 
the spreaders about 6 feet off the water. Amazingly the helm still responded 
though with all the lightening, it was mostly paws off and try not to get 
fried.

Nothing broke and we finished that race with a first in our division and a 
5th overall on corrected time out of 56 boats.

Soooo, Albergs will stand up to a lot - a lot more than a crew is willing to 
take for sure.

Enjoy your boat and reef when cruising - keeping the first mate happy is key 
to a happy ship.

Best

John

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jonathan Budington" <jon at globalprinting.com>
To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
Sent: Monday, July 19, 2010 10:32 PM
Subject: Re: [Public-List] Sailing technique

> Michael,
>
> I appreciate the feedback.  As I said earlier, heading down flattened the 
> boat out, but it didn't feel right.  I could see the boat was under a 
> great deal of pressure.  At 24 knots, it wasn't a problem, but I could see 
> that I wouldn't want to use that tactic in stronger winds.  I was 
> surprised by how quickly the boat wanted to head up, and how out of 
> control that felt.  I wanted to try to keep a somewhat steady course, but 
> I had room to maneuver either way.  I need to get accustomed to how the 
> boat sails on a 35 degree angle, and how easily it can hold a course while 
> heeling.  I just wasn't prepared to be out with full sail in that kind of 
> wind with my kids.  Again, they thought nothing of it - it just bothered 
> me, and I want to get it right next time.  Always learning something on 
> that boat...some of the best times I've ever had with my kids.
>
> Thanks for the help.  I'll give it another go this weekend.
>
> Jon
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: public-list-bounces at lists.alberg30.org 
> [mailto:public-list-bounces at lists.alberg30.org] On Behalf Of 
> crufone at comcast.net
> Sent: Monday, July 19, 2010 9:58 PM
> To: Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all
> Subject: Re: [Public-List] Sailing technique
>
>
>
> Jon,
>
>
>
> You had the good fortune of having the bloke ahead and upwind of you get 
> hit and thus give you warning. This is a generous warning that he might 
> not have gotten. First point is to observe how that boat reacted so you 
> can tell if there was a wind shift along with the pressure increase. If I 
> had observed that I would first warn my passengers, "strong puff coming 
> ..............looks like a header or lift, whatever is the case." In your 
> case I assume that you were beating and the pressure increase was a lift 
> as well. Second thing I would do is get ready to ease the main sheet. 
> Third thing is start to head up, get the boat's inertia moving for the 
> head up. As the pressure starts to build continue heading up to offset the 
> increased pressure,.......heading up as much as you need to to keep the 
> boat on her feet. Quick reaction is key here. Since you saw the boat ahead 
> get knocked down you knew that this was not a gust of wind that your boat 
> would handle and had the gift of forewarning so you need not worry about 
> reaction time you could be absolutely prepared for the hit. If heading up 
> is not enough to reduce the pressure on your sails then ease the main as 
> well, no need to blow the main unless you are too slow reacting or the 
> wind is too strong. Of course the head sail can be eased as well, in 
> harmony with the main.
>
>
>
> When hit with a strong gust you always want to pinch up, head up, quickly 
> if you are on a beat. A well designed and trimmed boat will want to head 
> up in a gust, this serves as a safety valve to spill wind reduce the 
> pressure and keep the boat upright. Depending on how stiff the boat is you 
> can drive her down in a slight increase in pressure and she will squirt 
> ahead just like a bar of soap out of your hands. You have to learn the 
> boat and what she can take.
>
>
>
> Now if you were in the same situation, BUT were in close quarters, in a 
> channel, near a breakwater, etc. then you don't have the room to head up. 
> You must depower solely with the main and headsail and hope the puff is 
> not strong enough to round you up out of the channel and aground or into 
> the breakwater.
>
>
>
> If you were alert, and you were, with the proper technique you might have 
> smoothly rounded up and no one would have noticed much except that you 
> steered a major course change.
>
>
>
> By driving down in an overpowering puff you actually created a more dire 
> situation. The strain on the rig increased tremendously and sometimes 
> people loose their rigs.
>
>
>
> While racing this is a dream because you head up toward the mark either 
> because of an increase in pressure or a lift or both..............yahoo. I 
> side with your kids..............lets do it again.
>
>
>
> Michael #133
>
>
> <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> Sent: Monday, July 19, 2010 2:20:33 PM
> Subject: [Public-List] Sailing technique
>
>
> I was sailing in the Bay yesterday afternoon - nice breeze of about 12
> knots. We were heading south towards Annapolis when I noticed the boat
> ahead of us was knocked down. Before I could reduce sail (no reef and
> the full genoa out), we were hit by a 24 knot gust. The boat healed (as
> it usually does), and wanted to head up. I pulled hard on the tiller
> and headed down until the gust subsided. My wife lost her drink (and
> composure), and my 5 kids were yelling "do that again". I think we
> reached a heal angle of 32 degrees - the leeward rail was well under
> water. My questions are:
>
> How far can an Alberg heel over before steering is lost?
>
> Is heading down the right course of action? (I was told to leave the
> sheets alone by a J-30 captain - just head off hard).
>
> Jon Budington
> Nimble
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