A really stupid question

[Faster]

Originally Posted by puddinlegs

...Go pick up or check out a copy of Bob Perry's book. Yacht Design According to Perry: My Boats and What Shaped Them

(Your C&C will fall under the category of IOR rule influenced boats.)

That's a great suggestion... terrific book.

[CBinRI]

Originally Posted by PaulinVictoria

The C&C I'm looking at has a freakin' huge 180, a smaller 150 and a storm. I think I might be sailing with the little storm hankie for a while if I get it.

Even on a boat designed for a large headsail you probably won't be using a 180 very often. I once had a C&C 36 which previously had been sailed on Long Island Sound (not a lot of wind). The prior owner had a 155 on a roller. I put a 135 on a roller and found that it was more than enough in Narragansett Bay, although I never raced that boat.

The main differences will be that tacking a 155+ will involve much harder loads. You will find that there is a lot more work in trimming the jib. Also, you will find it is much harder to see around. My present boat also has a large jib. When I sail a J-boat, for instance, I am shocked at how much easier it is to handle the jib, but part of that is because the boat is so much lighter as well.