Boat heel vs speed

[eric3a]

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[Frank C]

I more than agree that a sail upgrade would make sense, but I'm finding it a little difficult to just ignore new sails... So I'll probably do like you and sail them for a while until they're blown out. I suspect it won't take long either.

I agree w/Leon, but he offered 2 different suggestions. I think you only remember the second one. His first suggestion was to skip adding the third reef point, a waste of $125.

As light and basic as these sails are, you'll surely use them up before you have occasion to use that top reef. If Leon wouldn't use it on SF Bay, how likely that you would in Houston? (And, I'd usually head home before using the factory reef.)

It seems to me that your minor investment in a 25% reef is ample to learn the boat. By your second season you'll be wanting a real mainsail, a real traveler, mainsheet, etc, etc, etc.

[baldbaby2000]

Delevi - You went out sailing knowing you were going to have 35-knot conditions? I admire your ability, but to deliberately put yourself and the people who may have to rescue you in peril is . . . foolish. They don't call it "Small Craft Warning" for nothing.

I've been out in 35+ knot winds. You need to be ready for it and know what you're doing but I don't think it's inherently dangerous. Big waves would be the more important issue but I think those winds are managable especially with Leons "super woopie" weighted keel!

[eric3a]

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[James V]

eric3a - MMMM. Out boats have high freeboard and not much below waterline. In 35+ knots of wind with bare poles you will be doing 3 to 6 knots down wind and I hope you do not need to go to windward. A very ruff and wet ride. Use your motor. Any breaking waves on the beam and you could break swing keel and rudders. Others have.

I would first work on being able to get the sails down in a hurry and secured by myself. A Great Anchor and rode. Safety gear. Bringing the boat into the dock and securing in strong winds. Good VHF radio, SSB if going out more than 50 miles offshore.

[eric3a]

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[delevi]

Any breaking waves on the beam and you could break swing keel and rudders. Others have.

Who? I haven't read anything on this board about that. Any examples? I've taken a breaking wave on the beam and was pleasantly surprised at how well the boat responded. Knocked me sideways about a foot or two but I actually held my course. No problem. The sound of the collission against the beam really impressed me from the standpoint that nothing crackled. Felt like the hull was really solid. No issues with rudders or keel ( of course mine are modified so can't really make a general statement here for all macs,) but I think the stock rudders are plenty strong. Can't say the same about the stock M dagger board... flimsy piece of junk, primarilly at the trailing edge with very thin, unreinforced fiberglass. Don't know abou the X CB. Having the rigging properly tuned will probably have a significant impact on how well the boat can handle rough conditions.

[James V]

There was a post several months ago from a person who was comming back from Dry Tortugas Fl to Key West. Some shoaling had developed after the receint storms and he found himself in big, steep, breaking waves. He could not get the sails down fast enough. Was beam to the breaking waves and broke his dagger board and both rudders off. He was able to recover and motor back safely.

I was looking with the search and could not find the post. MMMMM. If anybody remebers reading please let me know, if not, I will edit.

I do realize that these conditions are rare. Inorder to break off the dagger board and rudders will take a great deal of force. I just mention it because of the discussion of heavy weather sailing. I hope that I never have to sail in 35+ winds for long.

[delevi]

Probably not so much the wind but the waves. I think you'll need a lot more than 35 knts in open ocean to have big breakers, but the scenario you mentioned is indeed a quite a pickle. The sea can be ruthless, no matter what vessel you're in. Big yachts break their masts too, etc, etc.

[craigsmith]

Quite right. The scenario that would damage your board is rough waves, steep swell with breakers - the right combination of boat pitch, wave, and wind, and the boat can fall sideways and trip over its board. There's a reason ocean-going boats in the old days didn't use fin keels - they couldn't make 'em strong enough

I wouldn't be trying to push too high in a MacGregor in 35 knots + (well I would, but not with the sails).

[delevi]

35 knts is doable on a Mac with reefed sails, provided you aren't in breaking waves or massive swells which are really close together. I would say 40 knts is probably the limit but some have claimed to be in heavier stuff than that... 50+