[Public-List] FW: Racers speed of A30 (Lawrence Morris)

[Gordon Laco]

Hello friends - 

I have been reading your exchanges with interest.  I would suggest that you
should never sail with your genoa partially rolled.  Even a new sail will
end up with a very poor shape, and any sail will eventually be ruined by
sailing partially rolled.  Despite what the sales brochures say, head sail
roller furling is a storage system, not a reefing system.

If you boat heels as dramatically as you say in that sort of wind, I have to
suggest that your sails are 'blown out' and not useful for racing.  A blown
out sail, although it will still look strong,  will have a deeper draft
(curve) than originally built into it, and the deepest part of that curve
will be further aft along it.  The result is excessive force directed toward
heeling the boat...and dramatically less useful forward driving energy.
Thinking along the same lines, installing full battens to a mainsail is
often done in attempts to remedy a tired shape - it doesn't usually help.
(although I know many people find such a sail easier to furl)

You shouldn't have to reef in only 12knts of wind, particularly with a
headsail as small as a 120.   A 120 and a single reef is what you'd expect
to use in winds getting over 28kts.  Also, a 120, being so small, will
create balance problems with the main even if the main is reefed.  Our boats
have large mains and need power forward to keep the development of weather
helm where it should be.  Too much power aft of the mast will increase
weather helm and force you to sail with too much rudder on as you counteract
your boat's tendency to round up.  If you shorten sail aft of the mast in an
attempt to ease the helm...you find yourself sailing underpowered and still
slow.

Yacht racing is of course as much (or more) about tactics than straight boat
speed, but it sounds like  you are hitting the ceiling with regard how your
improving sailing/racing skills are developing. I think new sails will make
a dramatic improvement in your results. I wish were racing on the same water
as you so we could spar with each other!

Gord  #426 SURPRISE


On 20/07/10 10:37 AM, "elyse.pastor at sympatico.ca"
<elyse.pastor at sympatico.ca> wrote:

> 
> 
> 
>  Dear Lawrence,
> Thanks for your input. We do have a 150 Jib, but I have to mention that it is
> quite old and has a very deep-kind of pocket. In light downwind - she performs
> quite well, even against spinnaker sailors. However, if we roll her half-way
> in (we have roller furling) she has no longer a shape but just a funny-formed
> pocket.
> But the other thing we noticed is - at 12kts wind, with the 150 and the full
> main sail, we would heel about 30 degree and the rail would be in the water.
> With the 120 and the 1st reef, the rail is just about 4" out of the water and
> she seemed to be well balanced. And from what I read in the past - I thought
> that the 20 - 25 degree angle is about the best angle she could have for the
> best performance??? Would you agree on that?
> About the prop - there is nothing I can do about it and the wetted surface
> itself is fairly clean (we have a very short season - mid May to mid October).
> But having said all that - do you know how fast you are going under perfect
> circumstances? If you tell me 6.1-6.2kts, I could say that the three-blade
> prop makes the difference. But if it is more like 6.5kts, I am certain we have
> to find some other things to improve. And unfortunately I am only aware of 3
> (three) A30 on our Lake - and I was never able to compare our speed with any
> of them.
> I thank you in advance for your reply.
> With best regards
> Bruno & Elyse, Lady Heron 297
> 
>  
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:29:15 -0400
>> From: Lawrence Morris <morris.lc at verizon.net>
>> To: Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all
>> <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
>> Subject: Re: [Public-List] Racers speed of A30
>> Message-ID: <470001C4-48A9-49A3-B160-5EAE9BBBD4F5 at verizon.net>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>> 
>> Bruno
>> 
>> Two things that i think is hurting your performance. First the 120 jib
>> is a real sacrifice in power. We race with 170's hear on the bay. And
>> I am willing to bet that the grampion and the mirage are sailing with
>> 155's at a minimum.  You trim in the big genoa and play the mainsheet
>> to keep the rail out of the water and the helm neutral.
>> 
>> Secondly, three bladed prop spinning or not is considerable drag. It
>> is as moch as a half a knot when the breeze is up.
>> 
>> I wouldn't be to concerned with the type of bottom paint as long as
>> the bottom is smooth and cleaned before each race. These boats have a
>> lot of wetted surface and need to be clean to reach performance goals.
>> 
>> Larry Morris
>> Bosun Yacht Systems
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>> On Jul 19, 2010, at 16:11, <elyse.pastor at sympatico.ca> wrote:
>> 
> 
>  
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