MacGregorSailors.com

you definately need the headsail to get the boat ballanced or you will be fighting it like crazy

For main sail alone in any conditions I vote for pulling the swing keel up 1/4 to 1/2 way. As stated earlier the issue is to balance the center of keel's lateral resistance with the sail's center of effort. The keel in full down position is for both main and jib. This is one advantage a swing keel has over a dagger board. Try it in lighter air and you can adjust the amount of weather helm on the with keel position. It is a good idea to mark the keel line to see how far you pull it up.
Bill

Again, you are just substituting leeway for balance. Check your VMG on a GPS and this will become very evident. Balance your helm with the sails and your heeling with sail trim.

~Rich

I don't think in the 1/4 to 1/2 up positions you are really going to see much additional leeway. In these positions you still have almost the same surface area of the board exposed as in the full down position. You are getting just as good a bite on the water, it is just happening further aft than the full down position.

You may well be right, Duane. I am only going by impression from my old V-17, but real GPS data from a handheld on my holder 14. It would be an interestin experiment.

~Rich

I keep this on board. When the anchor gets stuck, I just place the metal ring around the line, and let the ball do the work. It must have incredible lifting power because the round metal ring is now elliptical. The lifting force just bent that sucker


Ray