I was out today and did just about my best sailing ever. Normally, I'm happy (and content) to be in the 3's-4's knot range.
Today with the full main and 3/4 - 4/5's of my Genoa I was doing 5's to 6.0 consistently.
Wind was about 15 knots - my max comfort level with a full main. I noticed that the boat seemed to stiffen up after heeling 20/25 degree's, rarely went to 30.
I would think 5knts is not hard to achieve and we sort of aim for that as an average, of course this depends on how much junk (home comforts) one is carrying around with you
I like to sail in 10-15 mph. For me it doesn't feel like I'm sailing until I'm at 4 knots,but I like 5 knots and that's what I aim for. Several times I achieved 6 knots comfortably. I hit 7 knots and thought imminent death was soon to follow. So I shy away from that if at all possible.
Being somewhat of an "ole fart" at 71 and having had a number of "immanent death" sailing experiences already to reflect on with manly gusto with the grandkids, I sort of like to keep things manageable these days. I enjoy winds in the 10-12 knot range so I can enjoy my full main and an unreefed 110 jib that is my standard rig these days. Did I tell you about the time I launched a Hobie 18 off an Atlantic swell along the coast of North Carolina and literally (no s--t) went entirely airborne with three other adult men aboard? I digress...
Yeah, at 15 knots I was reluctant to use my full Genoa, about 110.
Herschel wrote:Being somewhat of an "ole fart" at 71 and having had a number of "immanent death" sailing experiences already to reflect on with manly gusto with the grandkids, I sort of like to keep things manageable these days. I enjoy winds in the 10-12 knot range so I can enjoy my full main and an unreefed 110 jib that is my standard rig these days. Did I tell you about the time I launched a Hobie 18 off an Atlantic swell along the coast of North Carolina and literally (no s--t) went entirely airborne with three other adult men aboard? I digress...
I find I get the "gurgle" sound from my wake after about 2.5
Floridacracker wrote:I like to sail in 10-15 mph. For me it doesn't feel like I'm sailing until I'm at 4 knots,but I like 5 knots and that's what I aim for. Several times I achieved 6 knots comfortably. I hit 7 knots and thought imminent death was soon to follow. So I shy away from that if at all possible.
Serenity wrote:Just wandering what you are using for your wind speed indicator. I want to add one but don't know which one. Please give me some advice.
I have been sitting on this one for a while, I have a friend that has one and he raves about it and the best part is cheap as chips compared to Raymarine etc.
Gee I would hardly ever go out with full sail if 15Knts was the limit for full sail.
110% jib and 100% main in 15knts is right when she starts to perform, being heavier than most boats their size with the ballast in means they need more wind to power up.
We have cruised along very nicely in 20knts with everything up and the boat felt sensational, really alive and chomping at the bit and our 1995 X has significantly less ballast than the later models, we controlled the heel by playing the main through gusts, my partner was on the helm and I had the lazy job of being on the main sheet, I suppose if your cleated in and are sailing best part of solo (no assistance from your partner) 20knts of wind may get a bit hard to control the heel through gusts, Im certainly no thrill seeker but I just love the heavy weather handling of my boat.
I have been out playing escort to a JOG racer when they were practicing for a big race in sea conditions that were so bad there was not another boat out on the whole bay and beleive me Im was glad I was in my X and not the JOG boat as we crashed through the swell. I got a new respect for the X that day, it just felt safe, comfortable and soooo stable all be it a bit damp with the spray going over the top, even the helm seat was soaked as our bow would smash through the wave and the spray would go clear over the stern. OMG that was such fun
Remember, you're down under, so everything is backwards.
sailboatmike wrote:Gee I would hardly ever go out with full sail if 15Knts was the limit for full sail.
110% jib and 100% main in 15knts is right when she starts to perform, being heavier than most boats their size with the ballast in means they need more wind to power up.
We have cruised along very nicely in 20knts with everything up and the boat felt sensational, really alive and chomping at the bit and our 1995 X has significantly less ballast than the later models, we controlled the heel by playing the main through gusts, my partner was on the helm and I had the lazy job of being on the main sheet, I suppose if your cleated in and are sailing best part of solo (no assistance from your partner) 20knts of wind may get a bit hard to control the heel through gusts, Im certainly no thrill seeker but I just love the heavy weather handling of my boat.
I have been out playing escort to a JOG racer when they were practicing for a big race in sea conditions that were so bad there was not another boat out on the whole bay and beleive me Im was glad I was in my X and not the JOG boat as we crashed through the swell. I got a new respect for the X that day, it just felt safe, comfortable and soooo stable all be it a bit damp with the spray going over the top, even the helm seat was soaked as our bow would smash through the wave and the spray would go clear over the stern. OMG that was such fun
I loved15kts with full sails, lowest speed over 45 minutes was 5.9kts up to 6.7kts. Full Genoa(135% IIRC from Judy B) and main. 15-20° heel. We could really feel her power up in the gusts. After that we neared a land mass that causes wind shadow and kind of spoils the fun.
Depending on point of sail and sea state I agree 15kts is about optimum for full sails. In the southern straits of the Salish Sea 20kts SE causes a confused chop of 2-4ft that makes helm keeping a busy chore and 20+NW takes you from 3-4 ft swells into 5-6ft steeper waves. Since we mostly cross on a beam reach the bigger waves take the fun out fast.
Of course if I honed my skills and got better sails to match the conditions I might change my opinion.
Fifteen knots with full main and 100% jib is fun and fast. By the time it hits 20 I'm ready to put a reef in the main. It's a lot less stress on me and the boat and I actually go faster. I also found out that somewhere north of thirty knots a person in the rear berth can stand up on the leeward side of the boat and the nylon straps on the clew of my jib will break.
