Leave it down, or tilt it up?

[richandlori]

I was out sailing this weekend from Channel Islands Harbor to Ventura Harbor, which is about 5.9 miles. I was about 1 to 1.5 miles out of Oxnard when I looked back and saw two other sailboats on my same tack bearing down on me. At that point, my partially furled genny was let out, sail trim was adjusted and we did our best from being overtaken, but alas, a Catinina 25 and a N24 (don't know what type of boat that is) overtook us about 1 mile out of Ventura. During that time of trying not to get passed, I was trying all the "tricks" that I knew of or had heard rumor about. The kids were below in the cabin watching, what else, Pirates of the Carribean, and I asked them which crew member we should throw overboard to lighten the load and go faster, they responded MOM! At that point the admiral looked over at me and ...well, I was in trouble.

Anyway, it was a great sail, but the point of the story is that .2-.4 knts can be a lot or little depending on your point of view. Normally I wouldn't care, but when I had a chance to make a "good showing" for a MacM, I did all I could short of tossing the Admiral overboard.

[Brian26x]

Looks like I opened a can of worms here. Thanks for the input . I just wanted to make sure it didn't harm the motor for the few short sails were I just leave the motor down. I liked that one too Rich.

[kmclemore]

...and a N24 (don't know what type of boat that is)...

Perhaps a Nimble 24?



(And if you got passed by a lowly Nimble, I'm ashamed of you! )

[Catigale]

Preface - not trying to start a flame war a la sailing anarchy but...

I find myself trimming sheets and changing my angle of attack on the main to perform better with sailboats when being passed or passing, as any good sailor would

delete 'sailor' and insert 'racer'

Cruisers just dont care.....

Its a thesis of mine that the distance between cruisers and racers of sailboats is LARGER than the gulf between 'sailors' and 'powerboaters'

[richandlori]

It wasn't a two masted boat, the N24 was on the sail, like the C25, or H44, ect. It looked to me like a catilina but since they pased me close enough to pass them a glass of wine, I didn't stare too much, to try and look like I didn't care that they had caught and passed me...ha ha ha.

My wife asked me that why with all this "room" out here in the ocean, would they come within 20ft of us? Personally, I try and give people room and wouldn't get that close out of trying to be friendly.

Rich

[ALX357]

.....they might have been curious about your Mac and were taking a close look.

[Mork]

Guys we are missing the obvious here. The only reason they came anywhere near you was they were in ore of the magnificent vessel you were cruising and had to show respect for the superior craft.

There is an old British Naval tradition of passing the flag ship of the fleet astern and abeam and while doing so dipping the Ensign. This has in some cases in the modern world been replaced with a wave. The important thing to remember is it is a sign of well earned respect.

FFFEEWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!

[delevi]

I disconnect mine. I get .5-.75 knts gain. The feel of the helm is also much better. I replaced the screw which attached the engine to the steering bar with a hitch pin. My boat came with a bolt on the port side of the transom with a small nut. I simply pull the hitch pin, pull out the engine linkage and drop it over the transom bolt. I then secure it with the nut. This keeps the engine dead center so it doesn't flop around when the boat heels. The whole process takes about 15 seconds. No tools. If you need to power up in a hurry, you can stil tilt down the engine and steer with the rudders, even with the engine locked dead center. The one problem with this is the range of the rudders is limited to one side, since the steering bar, when porturdes enough, comes in contact with the enigine linkage and keeps it form going over too far. You still get sufficient control and I have used the enigne a few times to get out of trouble without having to re-connect. In rough water, the boat is actuall more stable with the engine down. Not sure why that is.

[Beam's Reach]

In rough water, the boat is actuall more stable with the engine down. Not sure why that is.

Maybe because it acts like a skeg and it keeps the weight lower?