First Sail on my own boat - Observations and questions

[AlanBrown]

Good post!

Only one suggestion.

When sailing isn't going to get you where you want to go, fire up your engine. That's what it's there for.

[T37Chef]

I would agree with what some others have said that you were most likely overpowered for your rudder.

We probably sailed right passed you yesterday as we were coming into Solomons around 3:00 PM. I would add that considering the wind speed, the gust, and the sea conditions, it was probably a little much for a first time sail on a new to you boat

[sailingfool]

From your video...it looks like you are flying a small jib but the sheet is leading to a block far aft, on the toe rail. The result would be that your sail will be miss-shaped, flat on the foot and twisted at the top. With the block on the rail, the boat won't sail very close to the wind. Both these factors may increase you tacking angle as much as 10-20 degrees, meaning it becomes very difficult to get upwind. You should learn how to determine proper block position so the jib luff breaks evenly. That is a sweet sailing boat, I would be suprised if it doesn't have inboard jib tracks, if it does, use them (if not, after things settle, install some...).

You can make progress much better in rough weather under sail than with engine. Learn how to hove-to and reef the main, and use your sails. When sailing upwind in rough waters, you can actively helm the boat to avoid pounding...if the boat is pounding it will all but come to a stop...turn up a little rising on a wave, turn off at the top...learn to helm a path where you ride over the waters without pounding and you can upwind in a strong breeze and high waves just as well as in flat water.

You have a very capable heavy weather boat, one that likes 20 knots of wind much more than most, and if you figure out how to trim it for strong wind and waves, and steer it well, you'll find the conditions something to be cherised.

PS - as the boat heels excessively, set the traveler more to leeward. Mount a boomvang. Raise the main full hoist, and/or tension the halyard or downhaul to get the creases out of the luff.

[donhaller]

Originally Posted by T37Chef

We probably sailed right passed you yesterday as we were coming into Solomons around 3:00 PM.

At 3:00 PM things were still fun! We were watching a nice Ketch sail south not far from shore, but we were a good way off from them. We turned back north about a mile north of the LNG Platform. We kept hearing Coast Guard trying to reach a blue and white boat with a single occupant that was getting to close to the platform. Apparently they could not get them. I was curious what that was all about.

Anyhow, we turned back north and started fighting the wind about the time you would have passed us.

Cheers

[donhaller]

Originally Posted by sailingfool

From your video...it looks like you are flying a small jib but the sheet is leading to a block far aft, on the toe rail. The result would be that your sail will be miss-shaped, flat on the foot and twisted at the top. With the block on the rail, the boat won't sail very close to the wind. Both these factors may increase you tacking angle as much as 10-20 degrees, meaning it becomes very difficult to get upwind. You should learn how to determine proper block position so the jib luff breaks evenly. That is a sweet sailing boat, I would be suprised if it doesn't have inboard jib tracks, if it does, use them (if not, after things settle, install some...).

You can make progress much better in rough weather under sail than with engine. Learn how to hove-to and reef the main, and use your sails. When sailing upwind in rough waters, you can actively helm the boat to avoid pounding...if the boat is pounding it will all but come to a stop...turn up a little rising on a wave, turn off at the top...learn to helm a path where you ride over the waters without pounding and you can upwind in a strong breeze and high waves just as well as in flat water.

You have a very capable heavy weather boat, one that likes 20 knots of wind much more than most, and if you figure out how to trim it for strong wind and waves, and steer it well, you'll find the conditions something to be cherised.

PS - as the boat heels excessively, set the traveler more to leeward. Mount a boomvang. Raise the main full hoist, and/or tension the halyard or downhaul to get the creases out of the luff.

Sailingfool,

Lots of good information here in your response. When we left the dock I questioned myself where to place the snatch blocks, but went by what the previous owner had told me off the cuff. I was not really sure where they should be located and was taking a bad guess. After returning home on Friday I did a little searching through the books I have here and found a general calculation for determining placement of the blocks based on a line running 90 degrees from the luff running through the clew. I'm not sure if this is the correct way to get it started but it seems more scientific than my initial approach.

Currently, the boat does not have any jib tracks, but I am now considering installing some very soon.

Thanks for the comments.

[chef2sail]

Install them as far inside as you can. It will help your C&C out point most boats on the Bay. It is one of the great advantages we have in our boat in that we can usually sail a higher course to windward.

Older C&Cs are designed for good winward sailing and one of the many reasons is the positions of the jib tracks.

Dave

[smackdaddy]

don - nice sail dude! And don't sweat the heel. Learn to control it as much as you can - but it typically just means the wind is getting sweet!

Great job!

[sailingfool]

Originally Posted by donhaller

....a general calculation for determining placement of the blocks based on a line running 90 degrees from the luff running through the clew. ...Currently, the boat does not have any jib tracks, but I am now considering installing some very soon.

Thanks for the comments.

That is the objective for genral use jib lead placement, but eyeballing the jib lead angle is difficult, a more usuable approach is heading up to luff the jib - luffs at top first, move the lead forward, luffs at bottom first, move the lead aft.

There is proably a right location for the inboard track to avoid interior furniture and the headliner, contact other C&C 25 owners on the C&C discussion forum and see if you can get a pattern/measurements.

[motovationcycles]

Don,
Congratulations! looks like you had a great first sail!

[sailingdog]

Be aware, that unless the boom was modified by adding wedges to it, an older boom roller reefing system like yours will generally have very poor sail shape when reefed. Many of the older roller reefing boom systems have been converted to lazyjacks and slab reefing for a reason.

Originally Posted by donhaller

My boat utilizes a roller reefing system which you actually roll the sail around the boom. Last fall I sent all the sails to a good sailmaker here near Annapolis to have them checked out and identified for me. (I'm a sail newbie)

I had two main sails one which was the original 35 year old sail and it was unusable. However, the other main sail is in good condition and has another year or two in it, although it is about 18 inches short on both P and J dimensions. I considered reefing and probably should have, but by that time I decided conditions were not going to get better any sooner and I decided to drop both of them and motor. Another day I will reef and ride.