I wonder if he is using the same wind we are using?

[mike]

Anyone who has seen the wonderful movie "The Princess Bride" knows the above quote. We were sailing along last Friday in winds of perhaps 5 - 7 knots, and I made note of 3 sailboats behind us pretty far away. After a while, I noticed the first of them was gaining on us very quickly, and it was obvious he would soon pass us.

Of course, my first mate immediately starts with the "how come he's going so much faster than us, what are you doing wrong?" routine. While this may usually be justified, in this particular case, this boat seemed to be moving unnaturally fast. I realize that bigger boats are faster, but he passed us so quickly, I said that he was probably "motor-sailing." I took the following pictures in the hopes of vindicating myself...

Can anyone tell by the close-up photo of the stern whether or not the boat's prop was turning (judging on the turbulence/wake)? Of course, not that it really matters all that much... I know most sailboats are faster than ours, which is exacerbated by my lack of sailing experience and knowledge, but my pride really took a hit when he cruised past us as if we were standing still.

A little while later, the second boat (visible in one of the photos) passed us easily also, but he wasn't even using his main... surely he was motoring! The third boat never got any closer.





--Mike

[Catigale]

Geez, looks like a 50 footer at least

i dont think you coul d catch him with Billy's 115 HP

[Sloop John B]

This guy's got an awful lot of canvas in the air. I don't think he's motoring (no exhaust vapor or excessive turbulance).

When I see these kind of boats coming, I tack in such a way there's no relative comparison. Too depressing otherwise.

Years ago I was bobbing up and down in Narragansett Bay when Ted Turner tacked around me in Courageous, his huge sails bulged with wind. My sails luffed limply in the same air (like this guy's ensign on the fantail). What the heck is it?

[DON ABOARD C-OPAL]

Mike Don here from Orleans Marina (New Orleans) I think it's just a case of a much larger and L O N G water line being able to sail at hull speed in those conditions and all that square footage of canvas. Our 26X's aren't known for FAST sailing but bet we are out more often than that big guy.
Example my boat "C-Opal" is kept in a slip 20 min. from my home and I work nights so my days are free and I'm out sailing two to three weekdays a week. I plan on getting my moneys worth out of my investment. We see so many forty footers living at the dock rarely leaving it.
Enjoyed your post with pic whats that line. I see if often in Lake Pontchatrain
Happy sailing and fair winds.......

[Tom Spohn]

Lessay the boat that passed you had a lwl of 40'. This would give him a hull speed of 9+ knots--nearly twice as fast as you were sailing. Good sails don't hurt either.

[Don T]

Hello:
Nice boat! Our macs, even when sailed expertly, are good for 6.2~6.5 knots. We got passed by a schooner up in the San Juans last year. He was doing 12 knots and we at 6.0 looked like we were anchored. He had all the canvas up including the topsails. Made a great video shot. The taller the rig the better the wind can be tapped. When he went by our sails luffed in his shadow.

[argonaut]

The hardest four words to say to your wife ...
"... because his is bigger!"

[udannlin]

on a closed-haul/reach course (which seems to be what it is), a well designed sailboat can reach beyond the 'true wind' speed with its self-generated 'apparent wind'. He maybe steering a slightly different course than you since this boat can definitely sail closer to the wind than a Mac can. With the apparent wind propelling his sails, he is able to sail 'faster than wind' which would explain why hes going 9 knots and you are going 5 in 7 knot winds.

I guess with that in mind, he IS using different winds than you are!