MacGregorSailors.com

As for pointing to the wind, that is my speciality. I say that with a bit of humor because I have found that by pointing as far into the wind as possible, the boat heels less and the admiral is much happier. She likes sailing but hates that "leaning thing" so much that she goes below and moans loudly that the world is coming to an end when I go beyond 10 degrees. As for the angle to the wind, it is always right on the Windex marker of 45 degrees that I aim for. Above 45 and the boat starts leaning beyond 10 degrees and below 45 degrees I start to slow down to a crawl. Last week we spent three days overnighting on Lake Wylie (SC). As this is going on my third season with the X, I noticed I don't even look up at the Windex much anymore, as I can tell where the wind is coming from and the boat angle now with my experience. (Yeah, it took me two years, haha, most sailors could learn that in two days, I bet.)
Anyway, I like my speed and 45 degrees to the wind, and the admiral likes it. A rail in the water would certainly mean faster speeds, but then my wife's stuff would slide off the table.

opie wrote: A rail in the water would certainly mean faster speeds, but then my wife's stuff would slide off the table.

A rail in the water means faster heart rate but not faster speed, especially with a Mac. With standing headroom and realtively light weight towing, the mac is built more for comfort than speed.
Now when you fire up the iron genny, (insert Tim Taylor grunting here)

In my experience, the Mac 26x does not point into the wind very well. I would say about 60 degrees is the most you can point into the wind. Yes, you can get closer, but speed decreases significantly. If I'm doing 6 knots on a reach then as I get closer to the wind (adjusting the sails appropriately) the speed decreases to about 3 knots when close-hauled.

I think there are several reasons for not pointing into the wind very well: first, the 26x has high freeboard for the size of the boat, second it has very little under the waterline, and third, with a roller furler genoa that is only partially unfurled it doesn't cut the wind as well as a hanked on jib would.

However, for a family the Mac 26x has alot of other good points (inexpensive, large cabin for size, engine to get to places quick, and shallow draft to reach shoreline).

J.Teixeira wrote:Thank you very much for all your answers
I was in fact also thinking on fuel economy (here in Europe 1 lt of gas is now 1.45 € = 1 gal=0.66 $) and it seems that it will not stop there…

My calculations (liters to gallons) (Euros to dollars) I convert your price to US $3.58/gallon. That is currently the US average and it is only going to get worse.

Fuel prices are high but at least the Euro is kicking the US dollar.
We will be in Barcelona next week and the currency exchange rate is going to kill us. Good for you if you want to buy American stuff. Our hotel is costing us a fortune.

Owning a boat is costly. The fuel is only part of that. Keep the speed low and it won't burn that much fuel. With the Honda 50 you will have the extra power if and when you need it. Otherwise, just keep it slow and you will be fine.

3.8 liters per gallon
1.45 Euro per liter = 5.51 Euro per gallon
1 Euro = $1.55
5.51 Euro = $8.54

About double US average.

In the UK

1.12 Pounds per liter (unleaded) = 4.26 Pounds per gallon
1 Pound = $1.98
4.26 pounds = $8.44

Just FYI.

By the way. Diesel (like I use) is 1.24 per liter Thus 1 gallon = $9.32 thus 15 gallon tank = $140

But of course the average MPG over here in Europe (in my estimation) is much higher than the US...but gas is still expensive.

Jim

c130king wrote:3.8 liters per gallon
1.45 Euro per liter = 5.51 Euro per gallon
1 Euro = $1.55
5.51 Euro = $8.54

About double US average.

Ooops. I reversed something in my calculations.
That's pretty steep.
BTW.. we paid $1.64 for a Euro last week. I'm thinking of buying Euros as an investment because the dollar is tanking.

Well, what in boating is cheap? At least you CAN sail a Mac. Wind is still free.

Cheers

--Russ

I like to dump ballast while underway, going faster than 8 knots, and with a small motor, you might not have that option. I have a Nissan 50, and consumption is not bad (for a two stroke) if you stay at hull speed. For example, at 5 knots, (2000 RPM) I get about 6.6 MPG.

On the topic of pointing, my X seems to point better on port tacks (wind coming over the port side), verses starboard tacks. I don't know why. Anybody else notice that? At best, I can maybe get 45 degrees. It also depends on the intensity of the wind. The trick is to keep the boat moving through the water. Don't let it stop or you'll just go sideways. I get the boat close hauled and then flip on the autopilot. It stears better than I can.

~~~~~~~~~~_/)~~~~~~~~~~
Rich Plumb, "Plumb Crazy"
26X, Covington WA

Pointing angle depends upon the foresail, too.
Probably 45* for the jib, sheeting inside the shrouds.
Probably 55* for the Genoa, sheeted to the cockpit coamings.

Rich Plumb wrote:On the topic of pointing, my X seems to point better on port tacks (wind coming over the port side), verses starboard tacks. I don't know why.

Assuming your rig is evenly tensioned and balanced, I suspect the asymetrical X backstay may have an effect. I've noticed that the starboard shrouds go much slacker on a port tack than the the port ones do on a starboard tack. The backstay tends to hold the mast towards starboard, especially if it's pulled tight (mine has an adjuster).

I haven't detected a difference in pointing ability, but then I haven't tried to analyse it, and haven't sailed the boat enough yet either. In principle you'd expect it to be better on starboard tack with the backstay doing its work more effectively, but then rig tuning is a black art and what actually happens isn't always what you expect to happen.

Cheers, Rick

Frank C wrote:Pointing angle depends upon the foresail, too.
Probably 45* for the jib, sheeting inside the shrouds.
Probably 55* for the Genoa, sheeted to the cockpit coamings.

Frank,with all of you mods,how close can you get to pointing into the wind?

Matt ... 45 jib, 55 Genny.
My only significant mods are the GRV and outhaul ... helping keep the boat on her feet in heavier winds. I do believe the split adjustable backstay cured something of an imbalance in the tacking.

I'm pretty sure the traveler will improve things slightly, but I've only been out with it one time, almost a year ago ... health issues interfered since then. My next upgrading priorities are the Snapfurl and a beefier boom, both of which should help. Next time out, I want to swap back from genoa to jib.

Leon is the guy with the real list of 'money mods,' most importantly the upgraded sails. I think he posted 41* somewhere here ... my guess ... that's mainly due to good sails (IIRC, a jib not Genoa) and those running backstays.

One of the few times Ive gotten out on the Cape with my and some other sailors we played with pulling the main over that extra bit while close hauled, and sure enough, we got another 3-4 degrees closer into the wind. With genny, maybe flirting with 50 degrees to wind

Im sure a traveller or a main sheet cleated onto the rear cleats will help the points

For those who use the genny, running the sheets between the shrouds will improve your pointing by at least 5 degrees. It's a bit of a hassle to set this up and change back outside the shrouds when off the wind a bit, but it really does work, provided of course the wind isn't so strong as to overpower the boat w/genoa when sheeted hard. I just changed back to the jib. Our windy season is on.

Leon

Nobody wants to address your pointing question. My X points at 54-55 D. compass bearing, usually 110 D tack to tack with the genny. I have been out-pointed markedly by a 2000 X with a 15 hp and huge rudders (wood). When racing against this same boat but not in a pointing mode my boat has been as fast or faster. My X has the old style rudders and a 50 HP motor.

Of course I can always come off the course, claim I beat him and be home before he gets back to the marina.

If you are thinking about racing and don't live close to a bunch of X and Ms then don't buy a X, get a D.

A lot of pointing is the trim of your sails.
Foresail, jib or genoa should be trimmed through the cabin top cars to keep a flat sail tight to the centreline of the boat.
Another trick is a poor mans traveller. I use the mast raising blocks and hook one end to the boom bail and the other to my ez cleat on the genoa tracks along the cockpit rails. I am then able to pull the main over an additional 2 or 3 feet allowing me to point higher.
Just remember the sails are relatively fixed to the wind at any given speed so it is the relationship of the sails to the boat that will allow you to point higher.