MacGregorSailors.com

bartmac wrote:This subject is similar to the talk people have around the bar after a day of motorcycling.....mine goes faster,mine makes more noise,mine is bigger,look I've not fallen off.....recently,and no officer I was NOT exceeding the posted speedlimits....seems to be an argument some people have to win and if that's the case you've bought the wrong boat.

Bartmac
I know I bought the right boat - the BLUE one (with the beer cooler, Pussers Rum (admiralty rule), two types of tequila, and limes):D

jbousquin wrote:Hi everyone,

Anyway, I'm wondering if apparent wind has anything to do with it. How far off true wind can apparent wind be? If not with a vane, how do you determine where the wind "truly" is?

I didn't see an answer to this part of the original question. Apologize if I missed it, but:
It's vector math. Easiest to do on Manuevering Board graph paper (sold at West Marine!), but you can do on any blank sheet of paper as long as you measure the lengths of the vector. Draw vector of boat's course and speed (works best in True vice Magnetic). Starting from head of boat's vector, draw direction and speed of apparent wind (from anemometer). Now connect foot/base of boat's vector to head of apparent wind vector. Direction and length of this vector is True Wind. Some calculators can do this without drawing, but I find by drawing it out, even on a scrap of paper, I'm less likely to screw it up.

The faster you're going, the closer the apparent wind direction will be to the reciprocal of your course [probably obvious to most, but maybe not to all]. So, angle of apparent wind off the bow is not really a good direct indication of ability to point. Need to convert to true wind.

Me too...the boat is right for us....the ability to make a heading or aim for a mark on shore and trying to make it can be fun but lazely going with the flow is our aim....and if that doesn't work the motor is there if you have to get there.....and it sails right into the wind....fair weather to all and may you lots of fun on your Mac.....mine is sitting rather sadely not a chance of use until December

When I first got my 2000X (new) I tried to answer this question using a gps and the Vmg function. I found that if I set the boat up to tack through 110 degrees the Vmg was best (using the original furled jib and main). At both 100 degrees and 120 degrees Vmg was less.

Bill

pmmcderm wrote:

jbousquin wrote:Hi everyone,

Anyway, I'm wondering if apparent wind has anything to do with it. How far off true wind can apparent wind be? If not with a vane, how do you determine where the wind "truly" is?

I didn't see an answer to this part of the original question. Apologize if I missed it, but:
It's vector math. Easiest to do on Manuevering Board graph paper (sold at West Marine!), but you can do on any blank sheet of paper as long as you measure the lengths of the vector. Draw vector of boat's course and speed (works best in True vice Magnetic). Starting from head of boat's vector, draw direction and speed of apparent wind (from anemometer). Now connect foot/base of boat's vector to head of apparent wind vector. Direction and length of this vector is True Wind. Some calculators can do this without drawing, but I find by drawing it out, even on a scrap of paper, I'm less likely to screw it up.

The faster you're going, the closer the apparent wind direction will be to the reciprocal of your course [probably obvious to most, but maybe not to all]. So, angle of apparent wind off the bow is not really a good direct indication of ability to point. Need to convert to true wind.

Pmmcderm,

Thanks so much for the explanation... Once again, something that I didn't know I didn't know, remedied by this board! I'll check my course on my GPS and try it out.

P.S. I wanted to take pictures of my wind vane pointing and post them here, but when I went down to the boat, which I keep at Owl Harbor Marina, I discovered my pointer had been broken in half -- by an owl sitting on top of my mast! I guess my marina is aptly named....

Cheers,

Joe