mastreb wrote:Making hull speed (6+) knots is not difficult in a Mac at any point of sail if there's sufficient wind (12+) knots. Getting over 7 knots under sail is an unusual condition that you can't really "make happen", it's more something that happens to you and you ride. Maintaining it takes not just sailing experience but specifically sailing your Mac experience. It's partial planing or running with a strong current, it doesn't last very long usually, just a few moments in my experience, and it's difficult to maintain because on any point except running the boat will strongly round-up in the conditions that are right for it.
But it makes for a great Chart-plotter screenshot, to be sure , and is something no keelboat is remotely capable of doing.
Matt
it is just awesome when those conditions align. When this happens, the only thing I can take credit for is not screwing it up.
We average 4.5-5.4 in normal light conditions, but getting a sustained 7+ is rare here. It's either light winds <5knts or small craft to a gale. A sustained high 6 for sure that is usually under headsail alone. We've hit mid 9's and sustained 8.5 under headsail alone (half hour or so). The only reason headsail alone was it was not nice and it's easy to put it away on the furler if things go bad. I have often thought about if it's ok to run headsail alone, but no problems yet. When doing the preceding I keep the topping lift on (of course) and the mainsheet snug, but not tight. I figure that will help even just a little bit thats one really big lever. Have also thought about just adding a backstay for peace of mind
I'm not second guessing anyone. Your jumping to conclusions. I totally believe everything your saying and can't wait to try it myself.
Your going off half cocked and making a fool of yourself if your really mad. I'm assuming your joking.
Matt answered the question factually (best speed is hull speed) but as you say many have exceeded it and I for one am curious about how to do it. This is my first year with this boat.
BTW and JSYK.. Dave Sails an X.. They sail pretty good with just a head /fore sail .. Not so good with just the Main Up.. You and I have M's.. We sail pretty good with just the Main up.. Not so good with just the fore sail / head sail..
I read it here ,why the difference but I dont remember and I wont guess..
and Dave.. IMHO chill out dude...your being really rude and your not the appointed sailing GOD!!
My brother ( and there is proof of his trip..) last spring brought a 30 foot sail boat from Grenada Argentina to St Croix in some of the same weather we hear about from you, all the time and he prepared for it ....for a FLIPPING week and he NEVER sailed before in his life!! He Piloted the boat 90+ % of the time...... and his trip is on video and he has his stamped passport .. It might be on YOU Tube and I know its on facebook.. So do us all a favor and Please chill out..
BOAT wrote:I'm not second guessing anyone. Your jumping to conclusions. I totally believe everything your saying and can't wait to try it myself.
Your going off half cocked and making a fool of yourself if your really mad. I'm assuming your joking.
Matt answered the question factually (best speed is hull speed) but as you say many have exceeded it and I for one am curious about how to do it. This is my first year with this boat.
I'm pretty sure Dave was just joking and I really had no idea he was in a x boat. I never thought to read the avatar thanks for pointing that out
As you say there may be a difference on the m boat regarding sailing on a headsail alone I was indeed wondering because I really wanted to try it out in a heavy wind but really I'm afraid because I have no back stay
Does the x boat have a back stay?
I'm also curious about getting half the wind speed going downwind . . .i think that's incredible and Matt seems to experience the same too. The Aquarius would never get half wind speed downwind. Never. This is a plus I was not expecting
I was lucky enough to spent the day on the water with nice 15mph winds from the south. My knot meter was reading 7.6 up to 8.8 for a bit. This was on a broad reach, not adjusting for current. great day all around.
im sort of amazed at the speed on a beam reach and even further back behind the wind we were pointing close hauled all the way out and came back on a beam reach the speed was just as fast getting behind the wind i was surprised wind is not real strong here
, and is something no keelboat is remotely capable of doing.
