Macgregor 26X Outsails a Catalina 27..

[John McDonough]

.

Sunday around noon the NOAA weather forecast was calling for 25-30mph south winds on Lake Erie.
NOAA forecast was calling for Gale warning to begin at 4PM with Gusts over 50 MPH. The Tail end of IKE still going

With High winds, and no crew, I didnt want to hoist the mainsail..

About 12.30 PM, I went out in the bay, SOLO, and just unfurled the Genoa about 80%. The 26X to windward took off and I slowly started catching up to the boat about 1 mile ahead of me. It was a Catalina 27 with full Main Sail only. I passed the 27 and we started racing, he was able to tack closer to windward, but I was still gaining. as We reached the end of the bay and headed back downwind I just walked away from the 27. The Gusts kept knocking me over and I went back to the dock before it got too bad.

It was a great feeling to pass other boats, usually they all pass us.. Maybe the 27 was a novice, or maybe being late in Summer he had a fouled bottom, and I had just scrubbed my bottom before leaving the dock that morning.

[Love MACs]

Hey John..give a little credit to the Captain of that X. Maybe ure just a better sailor


Allan

[bscott]

50% boat, 50% captain

Bob

[beene]

I had just scrubbed my bottom before leaving the dock that morning.

..Mom always said to do that...... never know when you'll end up in the hospital....

LOL

G

[John McDonough]

I just scrubbed my bottom.
I take a shower once a month, weather I need it or not..

About the boat bottom...I have never applied anti fouling paint to my 26X, just Marine wax with teflon. Keeping boat in a marina slime builds up. Years of sailing, I am 100% convined that not cleaning the bottom slows down sailing performance. I try to anchor in shallow water and walk around the boat with long brush and clean off all the slime. Mask and spoone for the centerboard. If Its bad weather I clean the bottom by laying down on the dock and use a long handle brush to clean. If i dont clean off the slime for 3 weeks, it is now imposssible to get it clean in the water. Get the trailor, pull it out of the water, scrub brush and some soap.

Walking around the Marina, I notice quite a few boats sit there for weeks without use and even with anti fouling paint, they have a green coat of slime cemented to the hull..

[waternwaves]

John....


those winds are the best!!!!!!

your're already surfing when the other boat is still trying to lift ....

10-25 steady is perfect.....

it is just too dang rare.....

[NiceAft]

Yeah John! Give yourself more credit. Show some Pennsylvania pride. You out sailed him

Ray

[Moe]

Give yourself a LOT more credit !

Code: Select all

Portsmouth Yardstick
OFFSHORE CLASSES                 NAPY     D-PN
*************************        CODE
Precision 18                     PRS18  (101.0)
Capri 18 (Catalina, WK)          CAP18   100.7
MacGregor 26X SK                 MCG26X  100.0
Hunter 18.5 (WK)                 HTR185   99.2
Catalina 22 (FK, No Spi)         CAT22F   97.1
Catalina 22 (SK/WK, No/Spi)      CAT22    96.3
MacGregor 26M DB                 MCG26M  [96.0]	 	 	 	 
MacGregor 25                     MCG25    96.0
MacGregor 25 (MH Rig)            MCG25M   95.4	 
Catalina 25 WK,Tall Mast, Spi    CAT25LH  95.1
Catalina 22 (SK/WK, w/Spi)       CAT222   94.7
Catalina 25 FK/SK/WK, Spi        CAT25    93.9
Catalina 250 spi                 CAT250   95.6
MacGregor 26 SK (MCG26W)         MCG26S   94.3
MacGregor 26 DB (MCG26)          MCG26D   92.6
Hunter 260                       HTR260   91.2
Catalina 27 TM, Fix Prop, Spi	 CAT27H2  90.8
Capri 22 (Cat., FK/SK/WK)        CAP22    90.8
Catalina 25 FK/SK, TM, Spi       CAT25H   90.1
Capri 22 (Cat., Tall Rig)        CAP22H   88.9
Catalina 27 & 270 FK/WK, Sp      CAT27    87.4
Catalina 27 Tall Mast, Spi	    CAT27H   86.4

Parentheses ( ) around numbers indicate between 5 and 15 data points
Brackets [ ] around numbers indicate calculated number or fewer than 5 data points

[mighetto]

Well now to see if the 26X Outsails a Hunter 27 Edge. This is the power sailer introduced by Hunter last month. She caries a 75 HP motor, an interior like the regular Hunter 27s, and a mainsail like an Ocean 70. I understand they run about 65,000. I wonder if the Hunter main will fit a 26x - Huzzah, looks like another year of spirited power sailer discussion. When does Catalina get the message. The Future of Yacht Design is now.

Frank Mighetto
1999 Mac26x