What does it take to capsize a 26X ?

[Rocketman]

Hey,

This is my first year with my 26x and I am a bit uneasy when the wind gets upto 15-20 MPH. Will it capsize with full main and jib in 15MPH winds? I am use to a tiller on my 24 Mac and feel that the steering wheel just reacts too slowly to get out of trouble when she heels way over.

Thanks

Don

[Frank C]

When fully ballasted, the 26X with full canvas won't lay down even in 20+ mph winds on SF Bay. However, she will heel a good bit ... say 35 deg.


Keep your mainsheet handy and release it when you get nervous ... she'll stand up promptly!

Edit: see additional comments below.

[Rocketman]

Good to know. Thanks. It's the jib that worries me, but I guess a loose main is enough to pop her back up

[James V]

Try this - Take down the Jib or reduce it and/or reef the main.

When the boat heal's the main is reduced anyway. That is the amount of sail surface to the wind is less because of the heal. You will not loose that much boat speed.

It takes getting use to and can be a great deal of fun although a great deal of more work/energy used in the stronger winds.

[Frank C]

On second thought, I've always had the first reef in the main at those wind speeds, plus the standard jib, fully ballasted.

I may have over-reached in above suggestions. It's not that I think you'd necessarily see a knockdown, but the boat will likely refuse to sail with full canvas in 20+ winds. Even with the first reef (about 25 percent) the boat wants to round up when whitecaps become widespread (at say, 15+ mph).

You're still not at much risk of a knockdown until windspeed gets quite a bit higher. The only reports I recall were by owners on mountain lakes, hit suddenly by really high gusts ... like 40 to 50 mph ... too suddenly to react with the mainsheet.

[marsanden]

and take a look to the cb ....26x will react better with half cb than with full.

[Moe]

With the working jib and main sheeted all the way in, and slowly steered off the wind, we've taken the 26X over to or just past 45º in 15 mph (measured) wind and sailed it across the lake that way. I felt I could get it over further, maybe 60º, but that it would take more wind to get it beyond that.

In 20 mph wind, the working jib alone has taken it over past 30º.
--
Moe

[Tim Stone WindDancer]

When Wind Dancer was new we went over Labor Day weekend to Erie. Had a great time but had to return on the Labor Day Monday. Checked NOAA who predicted a 3 to 4' following sea with a weak cold front moving in from the NE and then building seas to 4 to 6' following. Basically thinking no big deal.. Right????

Well the key was winds building fromt he NE.. Yup got caught in a bonafide Noreaster.. Winds went to 45 to 50 knots with seas following at 10 to 12'. It was like riding a roller coaster. Actually had the prop of the big 50hp exposed several times. One event that happened is we surfed a wave and if it hadn't been a scary day that part was actually really fun.

When we got close to shore we had to turn broadside to weather and head up to each wave. Well I took a 12' broadside and went to 50+ degrees. The fuel tank poped out of the locker and I was lucky to catch it with my foot before it went overboard (yup the one running the motor). Even at 50 degrees she righted as soon as the wave passed.

After that we took a 12 to 14' dead on over the bow. The bow tucked below the wave and I had green water up to the wenches. The rush of water just about washed me out of the cockpit. Still didn't loose the motor nor sink the boat.. (BTW did have all hatches in place and battened down).

We finally passed behind the sea wall at our marina and the pulse finally returned to normal and I could peel my fingers off the wheel.

You know what when I heel to 35+ degrees I still get excited but I know she can take it..

Fair Winds
Tim Stone Wind Dancer
RFSC Commodore '07'