With my wife and kids out of town, I thought I would take advantage of the nice weather Friday and Saturday (though not today!), and go out to do some sailing on Lake Pontchartrain. While I, of course, love being out with the family, I was glad to have some time alone with the boat to really get to know her.
Friday, winds were pretty light... maybe 5mph, though occasionally a bit higher. I plodded along at a speed of just 2 - 2.5mph. This was my first time sailing with the autohelm, and it was very nice being able to concentrate on the sails, or just relaxing (no naps, of course!), while the boat stayed on the right heading.
At one point, I noticed the GPS was reading that I was only going about 1.5mph. Hmmm... I fiddled around with the sail trim, and couldn't get her to go any faster, which I thought was odd, since the wind didn't seem like it had died down any. Well, after a while, I happen to glance down at the transom, and discovered the source of my slowdown... I had snagged a crab trap on one of my rudders, and had been dragging it for who knows how long! Lake Pontchartrain has so many of these &%$*@ crab traps, that you could practically walk from float to float all the way across the lake, and these are a big problem for powerboaters. After freeing myself from this impromptu drogue, my previous speed resumed.
Saturday's weather was so perfect, I can't imagine a better day for sailing. Clear skies, not too hot nor too cold, lake not too choppy, steady 10mph wind from the southeast. I decided to sail to the south shore of the lake and back, and made what I thought was pretty good speed... 5 - 5.5mph on the way there (close reach) and 6.5 - 7mph back home (broad reach).
In short, a great day!
--Mike
What a great weekend!
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Tom Root
- Captain
- Posts: 560
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 11:39 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Annville, PA. s/v-Great White, MacX4787A202,'09 Suzuki DF-50
Mike,
I agree, it was awsome out here in San Diego also! I went out Wednesday with a group of four overnighted in anchorage's the whole time! The wind god was with me. The three ladies I had on board left Thursday night, and I single handed the rest of the time! Couldn't sleep on Thursday, as the winds were blowing, so I raised the rags, and stayed sailing till 2 A.M.! I was getting 6 knots, wasn't tired, so why not!
I then went out early the next day, and sailed without ballast until my wind speed indicator was reading was about 12 MPH. That pegged my fun meter at that point! This was my 1st time doing this, and it keeps you on your toes alot, but was thrilling! I probably would have braved it all the way to 20 MPH, but figured if I gotten a knock down, the only way to right her would be to have a high volumn pump to fill the ballast possibly? Strange things runs through your mind when you are concerned about that situation, but I did it for at least 3 hours!
Our club had a race on Saturday, and I guess my practice paid off, as we did much better this time, my second race ever in my own boat. Nearly won the last of 3 heats also! Yes, life is good!!!!!!!
I agree, it was awsome out here in San Diego also! I went out Wednesday with a group of four overnighted in anchorage's the whole time! The wind god was with me. The three ladies I had on board left Thursday night, and I single handed the rest of the time! Couldn't sleep on Thursday, as the winds were blowing, so I raised the rags, and stayed sailing till 2 A.M.! I was getting 6 knots, wasn't tired, so why not!
I then went out early the next day, and sailed without ballast until my wind speed indicator was reading was about 12 MPH. That pegged my fun meter at that point! This was my 1st time doing this, and it keeps you on your toes alot, but was thrilling! I probably would have braved it all the way to 20 MPH, but figured if I gotten a knock down, the only way to right her would be to have a high volumn pump to fill the ballast possibly? Strange things runs through your mind when you are concerned about that situation, but I did it for at least 3 hours!
Our club had a race on Saturday, and I guess my practice paid off, as we did much better this time, my second race ever in my own boat. Nearly won the last of 3 heats also! Yes, life is good!!!!!!!
-
Tom Root
- Captain
- Posts: 560
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 11:39 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Annville, PA. s/v-Great White, MacX4787A202,'09 Suzuki DF-50
Rolf,
Well, I actually sailed all points of sail without the ballast! Once it started feeling hairy though, I hove-to, and sat until the ballast filled up, and off I went!
I currently have 100% Jib Roller, and standard Main unreefed. I just bought an attwood portable pump that can pump up to 4' head @ 200 GPH. If she goes over, I will rig the pump up and fill the ballast to right her, if needed! As I get braver, I will try and maintain through 15 MPH. This is what Roger states in his Video, and brochure anyway!
As far as 18 MPH under sail, I feel this is an elusive dream, but possible according to Roger. F.M, just goes off on a tangent, and until I verify this as possible on my two GPS units on the VMG scale, I just wont believe it!
I would try this in racing only after I become proficient and will do it singlehanded for awile! I now have a loos gauge for the rigging, and may make some future mods, such as a double headsail setup, with the leading sail being a 160% roller reefing setup. And I have a Traveler setup that will be like Tony Houk's system with the exception of a 7" height, and adjustability fore/aft via 1" track extended all the way back along the edge of the hatch to the companionway!
Racing this yacht has really helped get me going as far as performance enhancements. They may not add to much to an already slow ride, but every bit helps IMHO. The more I sail her, the more I trust in her, she is at least an able craft, and any speed I can gain with mods and skill is what keeps my interest peaked! I know she'll never be a zoomer under rags, but she, and I are getting mo betta!
Well, I actually sailed all points of sail without the ballast! Once it started feeling hairy though, I hove-to, and sat until the ballast filled up, and off I went!
I currently have 100% Jib Roller, and standard Main unreefed. I just bought an attwood portable pump that can pump up to 4' head @ 200 GPH. If she goes over, I will rig the pump up and fill the ballast to right her, if needed! As I get braver, I will try and maintain through 15 MPH. This is what Roger states in his Video, and brochure anyway!
As far as 18 MPH under sail, I feel this is an elusive dream, but possible according to Roger. F.M, just goes off on a tangent, and until I verify this as possible on my two GPS units on the VMG scale, I just wont believe it!
I would try this in racing only after I become proficient and will do it singlehanded for awile! I now have a loos gauge for the rigging, and may make some future mods, such as a double headsail setup, with the leading sail being a 160% roller reefing setup. And I have a Traveler setup that will be like Tony Houk's system with the exception of a 7" height, and adjustability fore/aft via 1" track extended all the way back along the edge of the hatch to the companionway!
Racing this yacht has really helped get me going as far as performance enhancements. They may not add to much to an already slow ride, but every bit helps IMHO. The more I sail her, the more I trust in her, she is at least an able craft, and any speed I can gain with mods and skill is what keeps my interest peaked! I know she'll never be a zoomer under rags, but she, and I are getting mo betta!