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I have a with a 105 genny and stock main sail
most of my sailing has been on a wind surfer so i see trees bent over and I think lets get out on the water
now a macs not a wind surfer and I'm not 35 any more so what are the min. and max. safe winds to go out in
for getting use to the handeling characteristics.
every body chime in.
Jeff

Gater Dunn wrote:I have a with a 105 genny and stock main sail
most of my sailing has been on a wind surfer so i see trees bent over and I think lets get out on the water
now a macs not a wind surfer and I'm not 35 any more so what are the min. and max. safe winds to go out in
for getting use to the handeling characteristics.
every body chime in.
Jeff

Ok here we go. First a 105 would be a Jib so you are using the inside tracks for your sheets. This means you can sail closer to the wind and you will not heel as much as my 150% genny. With my genny it feels like at times I am going to tip over but just before it reaches 40 degrees heel it heads up on its own. So what does this tell you it means dont worry about the wind provided you have full ballast. What you need to worry about is waves. Large breaking waves can and will flip you. So find a nice bay somewhere where the wind is coming from the land to the sea and hug the shore were the waves will be small. Then practice all points of sail at different wind speeds until you figure out what is compfortable or fun for you.

I'm not comfortable in winds over 20 mph. (contrary winds can be a problem if the ballast is empty when motoring in for dock-side tie-up manuevers).

Some of the thread posts I've seen appear that some Mac'iers like hi-winds, and these guys arent "fair weather" sailors as I am.

In my opinion, the Mac does its job well in high winds, if the ballast is full, with furler and reefing functions, and loose cabin stuff is secured. Ive discovered the Mac tough, and it'll handle rough weather. Rough weather simply isnt my sorta' fun. There's a lot of competitor boaters that claim that the Mac isnt tough, I've found that's untrue.

For me, winds at 10 - 15 knots are just fine and preferable.

Gater Dunn, like you I had to change my way of looking at how I sail, I use to race catamarans and loved going wild on my windsurfer (until I broke the carbon mast) one of the biggest differences you will find while sailing your Mac compaired to your windsurfer is the boat's reverse lean from wind pressure, it's an interesting sensation when you're use to leaning back into the wind taking the mast and sail with you. Take it easy for a bit while sailing your Mac and read up about reefing the sails, it won't take you long to get use to your boat's character under sail ... have fun, sit back and enjoy the scenery.


Fair winds
Glenn

Another thing about a Mac you will take a little to get used to is the time it takes to go from 15 degrees one way to the other, it is quick and you think the boat is going to tip over for the first couple of times you take it out. Don't worry though it slows down after you hit 15 degrees that is the water ballast at work, or democrats possessed by demons.

I may be a wuss, but I believe the Mac is at its best in light winds. I find it delightful, ghosting along in 5 - 10 kts of wind; I'm thinking of my first reef at 10 kts, and 20-kt gusts will see me pulling in my second reef.

The Macs are definitely light for their size, and lightly ballasted. Also, the ballast is in the hull rather than in a fin; this reduces the moment of the ballast, and makes the boat comparatively tender. Here's a comparison of its displacement and ballast with some other sailboats in its size range:

3750 (1400 ballast) = Mac 26X
4000 (1800) = Hunter 25
4550 (1550) = Catalina 25
5000 (2000) = Ericson 25
5400 (2200) = Pearson 26
5500 (2100) = Westerly Centaur 26
5850 (2050) = Ranger 26
7300 (3150) = Catalina 27

Note that every boat I've cited has a heavy fin keel, except the Westerly (two fins) and the Mac (water ballast). The center of gravity is lower, making the keelboats "stiffer". They also give up less leeway than the MacGregor, when you sail them close to the wind.

This is NOT to say that I'd trade Bossa Nova for any other boat on this list! But I will admit to describing her, to sailors of larger & heavier boats, as "a 26-foot, sleep-aboard sailing dinghy." When I get tired of that sawtooth tacking track on my GPS, it's time to fire up the Honda and get a move on.

26 foot sleepaboard with 6 teenage girls for a week on cape cod, surely...

I'm definitely wearing a road soldier bag next summer when I roll into Cuttyhunk harbor with my underage crew

Catigale wrote:26 foot sleepaboard with 6 teenage girls for a week on cape cod, surely...

I'm definitely wearing a road soldier bag next summer when I roll into Cuttyhunk harbor with my underage crew

I think I going to have a sale on them about that time. Save 100USD.

The special is only good for the origianal model.

The latest model still runs $999USD.

ROAD Soldier wrote:The special is only good for the origianal model.

Saw a great line today that with a slight change of words really seams to fit Road Soldier.

• ‎95% of drivers say "Oh Sh*t!" before driving their car into a ditch. The other 5% are rednecks and they say "Hold my beer and watch this sh*t!"
  

Now you make a couple of changes like "drivers" to "sailors", "car" to "Sailboat", and "ditch" to "Severe Wind Gust" and I think we've hit the mark.

Hi Jeff,

Seems to me, the original post was about wind speeds for getting acquainted with sailing the Mac.

I see you’re in Victoria BC which is a wonderful place to have a Mac. I have had my X up their several times after crossing from Port Angeles and have been west to Sooke Harbor twice, including a wild ride through Race Pass.

Before heading out the first time, sort out the sails and think through a plan to get them flying. Of course step #1 is FILL THE BALLAST TANK.

Winds between 4-8 knots are great. The boat moves, you can tack or jibe easily and experience a bit of heel. If you can see ripples on the water, enjoy, if whitecaps, try another day.

BTW, I would stick with the standard jib until you are completely comfortable with the boat. In summer, morning winds are generally light and build toward afternoon. And, until you are comfortable in winds of 20kn or so, I would not go out if SE winds are forecast. Outside Victoria Harbor, the typical N to W are moderated by the bulk of the island, so generally you can enjoy more wind as you head south, then turn back toward Vic and calmer conditions if things get too exciting.

Last, the strait is big water. Always wear a PFD and have a GPS and VHF radio aboard.

Can’t wait to get back to Vic for Swiftsure 2011!

I tend to be in the same camp as LOUIS B HOLUB, anything over 20 knts is no longer enjoyable even if it is doable. My acceptable range is slightly higher though as I prefer 10-20knts of wind with 15 being average. I won't even raise the sails for anything under 6 kts and above 20 knts it is time to head back. The Mac shines in 10-15 knts of wind and it is easy to handle, 15-20 and you are on your toes paying attention, under 10 and you will be letting your mind wander. With just the jib you can push the 20 knt limit comfortably but you will struggle in winds under 10 knts. Since you are in Victioria area try launching from the Sydney area where you have greater protection from larger waves and can practice in flatter water but good winds. You are blessed with having one of the worlds premiere sailing venues in your back yard, the Gulf Islands & San Juans are spectacular for sailing around.

As an aside Check out MYCBC.ca on the internet, it is a Mac club of BC owners and we hold several annual events and have lots of fun. There is an X called Mover in Victoria who is a member and may provide some help, hope to hear from you.

with 2 guys onboard.........20 apparent is comfortable especially downwind, tolerable on a reach (but exciting)

with the spouse, or going upwind.........er.........she doesnt have as much fun....but with a 105-90 jib, and if it is steady, it is a great day. once the waves are over about 3 ft. tho....the mac really slows down. mostly I would head up if the gusts went over 20 apparent.

a nice 150 mylar genny is a compromise, but it does have better shape than a dacron for the high wind.
Any sustained winds over 20 I reef on the mac.......

Since mine is gone now, I just drool at Captain Pauls Mboat.......

Fxwg80hd wrote:

Saw a great line today that with a slight change of words really seams to fit Road Soldier.

• ‎95% of drivers say "Oh Sh*t!" before driving their car into a ditch. The other 5% are rednecks and they say "Hold my beer and watch this sh*t!"
  

Now you make a couple of changes like "drivers" to "sailors", "car" to "Sailboat", and "ditch" to "Severe Wind Gust" and I think we've hit the mark.[/quote]
Almost I have found I need to make a lot of cup holder mods so there will be one within a half an arm's reach at any given time because I usually sail solo when the weather is tough and I hate wasting alcohol.

Watch out for Kenmore Air! Trust me.



The most exciting time I have had in your area, was just outside of Victoria Harbor. Winds were SW 25-30 kts and I had just headed up on a Gemini 105, to drop sail and head into the harbor (Sails not allowed in harbor proper). Westerbeke diesel quit and we were headed in an aft direction for the rocks. I was at the helm and doing my best to keep her into the wind, while my crew was trying to diagnose the engine trouble. Just as I was ready to deploy the jib and fall off the wind to gain headway, they got the engine running, but man was it an adrenaline rush.




~Rich