18 mph under sail. Can it be done?

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

So I steer the boat with one hand, keep the main sheet in hand to open up before capsizing, lean out on trapeze (so far so good!).... and use my remaining hands and attention to take pictures!!

Yep, then you get to be the man!

Hey, here's an idea, strap a waterproof camcorder on to your backstay!

[delevi]

I still have a theory that the feat can be achieved with ballast under spinnaker, full main and about 20 knots wind on a broad reach. Ballast in, no trapeeze necessary. At least that's how I'm going to attempt it. All kidding aside, I think if you fly that spinn in a strong breeze w/o ballast, you do have a good chance of capsize. Might ruin the fun. If attempting the feat w/o ballast, I think a second crew member would be crucial to be able to release the spinn sheet if needed and to steer all while you're hiking out holding that main sheet.

On edit: 3rd crew member to work the camcorder. Oh crap, that's too much weight. Maybe have a buddy in another boat go alongside and film.

[Scott]

I still have a theory that the feat can be achieved with ballast under spinnaker, full main and about 20 knots wind on a broad reach. Ballast in, no trapeeze necessary.

My brother and I have tried this. While it is quite exciting I still dont think we were planing. Full main and spinnaker in 20+ winds and we were still pushing water.

Now my boat is loaded with all the ammenities and we were at a run or slightly off of it most of the way down, or up the lake. Lake run was south to north wind was from the south west about 45 off of the stern.

We also got passed by a cat 21 with full main and 130 or so jib. It took a full 5 miles for him to get by us but he still pulled into the cove in front of us. My brother is a less experienced helmsman than I and I think if he could of held his point instead of yelling "Sh*t, sh*t sh*t" all the way down (or up) the lake, we would have won!!

As a sidebar, The missus refuses to sail with me on days like this.

on edit, I believe I have intimated this tale before onthe board and if memory serves me I did not have the presence or poise to remember to pull up any foils.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Well, I think if you are flying the spinnaker in very high winds, then even with the ballast in you may still capsize (think about all the heavy keel racing boats that broach in high wind spin runs). It will just be easier to get it back up once you snuff it.

My problem is that I'm always single handing the spin so I don't usually have the motivation to do this extreme type stuff by myself. Maybe with a chute scoop, that would be different.

[beene]

I am in the same boat, well not EXACTLY, but same story as Dimitri.

I just ordered the ChuteScoop and can't wait to try it out.

Will report back once fully tested.

Cheers

G

[beene]

You can bet in high wind, single handed, I will have the chutescoop control line in hand and make that kite disappear toutsuite.

Hopefully avoiding a knockdown.

G

[Scott]

Better to have the working sheet in hand to pop loose and let the sail flog!!

Then douse.

[delevi]

My brother and I have tried this. While it is quite exciting I still dont think we were planing. Full main and spinnaker in 20+ winds and we were still pushing water.

Now my boat is loaded with all the ammenities and we were at a run or slightly off of it most of the way down, or up the lake. Lake run was south to north wind was from the south west about 45 off of the stern.

We also got passed by a cat 21 with full main and 130 or so jib. It took a full 5 miles for him to get by us but he still pulled into the cove in front of us. My brother is a less experienced helmsman than I and I think if he could of held his point instead of yelling "Sh*t, sh*t sh*t" all the way down (or up) the lake, we would have won!!

Oh, but Scott, you're in an I still think it can be done in the much faster boat Just kidding. I couldn't resist, just due to the volumes of debate about this topic. Seriously though, maybe with the loose-footed main, minus the drag of the cb, pulling up the daggerboard up 3/4 , pulling up one rudder, full ballst (don't want to be stupid) engine tilted up, and knowing that my boat does plane around 10 mph it could be done. I'll wait for the right conditions and hopefully will have some crew with me at the time to help man the spinnaker and see just how fast she will go.

[beene]

Well, one thing is for sure, I CAN'T WAIT TO TRY THIS ALL OUT!

G

[Scott]

The debate of over has been had but I would be leary of pushing an downwind too hard without a backstay.

Im sure Macgregor took this into account but it would give me pause.

On Edit, I guess I have my early season project lined out.

[delevi]

I have runners installed and I use the standard jib halyard to hoist the spinnaker, so no extra loads above the forestay/shrouds. I believe the swept back spreaders with running backstays should provide ample support.

On Edit, I guess I have my early season project lined out.

What are you up to this time?

[Scott]

Quote:

On Edit, I guess I have my early season project lined out.

Luring my brother onto the boat on a very high wind day to attempt to get my boat to plane.

"Hey Brian, its too windy to sail today, meet me at the boat and we'll go fishing" heehee, NOT!!

[delevi]

I tried that with my brother, but he gets seasick.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

See my post here on this topic:

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... &&start=17

I was hitting 9mph but honestly, the boat felt quite heavy with full ballast. It takes almost all my 50HP to plane the boat with ballast and heavily loaded for cruising. When I am out with no ballast and very lightly loaded, I feel that I only need about 30 of my 50 horses to plane out. This of course is all seat of the pants and not pure science but the point is that the extra 1400-2000 pounds makes a pretty huge difference.

I believe that the boat can plane under the right wind and sail conditions if it is lightly loaded with no ballast. This would enable it to ride over the waves instead of through them. Everytime you bash into a wave, speed drops off significantly...and I'm talking short frequency chop here, not real big/long waves where you are surfing down them as opposed to smashing through them (and you will have waves with wind required to plane).

Of course, I'm not going to try a high wind spinnaker run with my kids on board (had two of them, 6 and 8 yrs old with me for my cruise last week) as well as the large amount of cruising mods on my boat now. I know I get ribbed for this, but I'll crew on someone elses boat to try to hit the jackpot. Just think, a brand new boat with no mods yet (except a GPS). ..put a little cheap kicker on it before installing the big iron. Take the cushions out and who cares if it gets a bit wet if you broach.

[baldbaby2000]

The debate of X over M has been had but I would be leary of pushing an M downwind too hard without a backstay.

As long as you don't try to do it without a main I think it's pretty safe. I added running backstays to mine not because I was concerned about structure, but I wanted to take the sag out of my forestay.