Light wind performance?

AntiguaRum · #1 (**permalink**) 10-05-2008

Hello All!

I am planning to purchase a 32' to 37' boat next year. I am in love with the PS37! But with a DLR of 338 and SADR of 14 I am little concerned about her light air performance. I'll be sailing the San Juan and Gulf Islands (Washington/B.C. Canada) where, in my limited experience, the winds seem to run 5-15 knots in Summer and bit more in spring and fall. However, it can get rough pretty quickly.

I would love to know how your boats perform at various wind speeds. Has Pacific Seacraft published polar diagrams for the 34' or 37'?

Any specific things I should consider if buying a Crealock boat?

Many Thanks!

Eric Busse
Seattle, WA

billbalme · #2 (**permalink**) 10-06-2008

I'm certainly not experienced enough to talk properly about this - but I'll give my 2 cents anyway...

I have the 37 - it is indeed a heavy boat, but with an assymetrical spinaker, it works great in winds around 5 kts and by 15 kts I'm pulling the thing in. It even gets to about 40 degrees apparent! Best sailing for the 37 with normal sails is about 12 - 15 kts, but it's really easy to handle in upto 30 kt winds with a reef in. In the heavier weather, having the Staysail really helps too.

I did one race in the boat - around Prudence Island, so about 5 hours - and managed 3rd in class - and that was racing under double reefed main and staysail for part of the time!

I'd say it handles the heavy stuff reallly well, and the light stuff adequately...

Enjoy!

Bill
s/v Toolde-oo!
PSC37 #148

hphoen · #3 (**permalink**) 10-06-2008

Ditto what Bill said. Get an asymmetric with a sock, and you'll have a ball.

arisatx · #4 (**permalink**) 10-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by AntiguaRum

Hello All!

I am planning to purchase a 32' to 37' boat next year. I am in love with the PS37! But with a DLR of 338 and SADR of 14 I am little concerned about her light air performance. I'll be sailing the San Juan and Gulf Islands (Washington/B.C. Canada) where, in my limited experience, the winds seem to run 5-15 knots in Summer and bit more in spring and fall. However, it can get rough pretty quickly.

I would love to know how your boats perform at various wind speeds. Has Pacific Seacraft published polar diagrams for the 34' or 37'?

Any specific things I should consider if buying a Crealock boat?

Many Thanks!

Eric Busse
Seattle, WA

Eric:

I've not seen any polars myself, although the esteemed Earl Hinz did a review for Sea Magazine back in 1978 that I think referenced some polars.
Have you seen the old PSC brochure for the 37?

I can tell you that we averaged 7 kts with our Asail this summer on our sail out of Burnham harbor in downtown Chicago, back north to our home port at NorthPoint Marina in Winthrop Harbor, IL. She's not a light air boat for sure, but she'll surprise you once in a while.

AntiguaRum · #5 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008

Very encouraging!

I hadn't thought of rigging it with an asymmetrical. Thank you very much for the great info! I can't WAIT to sail one. I would love to charter one before I buy. San Juan Sailing in Bellingham, WA has a PS34. Does anyone know of a 37' available for charter?

Many thanks!
Eric

arisatx · #6 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008

Eric:
There's a PSC34 for charter on Lake Superior thru Superior Charters:
link

we had her going over 8kts in 35kts downwind and encountered over 47kts during a summer squall with marble sized hail a few years ago. That's what convinced us to look at PSC's...

unomio · #7 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009

Eric,

We sailed and raced (!) our 37' in Southern California for 20 years. We never owned a spinnaker, only a light "quilt-cut" genny built by Kern Sails. We took line honors as well as class honors although we were the only boat sailing without a spinnaker. Obviously, had the wind been less (it was about 8-10 knots) we would have had more problems, but the 37 performs very well in light winds. Keep a good slippery bottom and you'll be very pleased.

Sue
PSC 40#60 Fugue

Pegasus34 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009

A year or two ago I can across a polar diagram for a PS 34. I don't know the source, but here it is:
6 8 10 12 14 16 20
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
20 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
30 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
40 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
52 4.4 5.3 5.8 6 6.2 6.3 6.4
60 4.7 5.6 6.1 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6
75 5 5.9 6.3 6.6 6.8 6.9 7
90 5.3 6.1 6.5 6.7 6.9 7 7.3
110 5.2 6.1 6.5 6.9 7.1 7.3 7.6
120 4.9 5.9 6.4 6.8 7.1 7.4 7.8
135 4.4 5.4 6.1 6.5 6.9 7.2 7.8
150 3.7 4.6 5.5 6.1 6.5 6.9 7.5
180 3.3 4.2 5.1 5.7 6.1 6.5 7.1
210 3.7 4.6 5.5 6.1 6.5 6.9 7.5
225 4.4 5.4 6.1 6.5 6.9 7.2 7.8
240 4.9 5.9 6.4 6.8 7.1 7.4 7.8
255 5.2 6.1 6.5 6.9 7.1 7.3 7.6
270 5.3 6.1 6.5 6.7 6.9 7 7.3
285 5 5.9 6.3 6.6 6.8 6.9 7
300 4.7 5.6 6.1 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6
308 4.4 5.3 5.8 6 6.2 6.3 6.4
320 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
330 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
340 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Lansdowne · #9 (**permalink**) 10-29-2010

Many thanks for the table, first I have seen posted anywhere,
There are several nav programs that will allow you to build your own, but every time I get ready to, I just keep sailing on .......

sailingfool · #10 (**permalink**) 10-29-2010

FWIW the PHRF New England PHRF New England - Handicapping - Base Handicaps rates the Crealock 37 at 174 while a more performance oriented cruising boat like a CS 36T rates 123. My expectation that these numbers would work in mid to strong breeze conditions, but in lighter air, I'd expect the Crealock to not come close to that rating...if it'll move.

When I see PSCs in the summer, they are usually under power...just my experience. Its fine to be romantic, but also be realistic.