Hello,
So my wife, three kids and I are out for a short sail. We didn't have a lot of time, so the plan was get on the boat around 11:00AM, sail for two hours, then get home in time to do some chores.
The weather was just about perfect: temperature in the mid 70's, wind a pretty steady 10-13 kts, starting from the NNW and moving W as we sailed. We were enjoying the day, sailing with full main and 150 genoa. When the wind was 13 or so the boat heeled, but not too much. I was just starting to depower the main by using a lot of halyard tension, full outhaul, that sort of thing.
So why do I hate my boat? Well, at one point we were heading north, about 50 degrees off the apparent wind. The boat was moving well, about 5.5 kts and all were happy. Then I saw a boat behind us, about 500 yards and moving in the same direction. I recognized the boat from the marina, it's a very nice, very new Jenneau, about 36', furling main, 130 or so headsail. So he is on the same course as we are, and he's gaining. Hey, I don't want another boat to sail faster than me. So I have my wife and kids get on the weather rail. I trim the headsail until the telltails are streaming. Then I trim the main to match. The boat is moving a little faster, but the Jenneau just keeps getting closer and closer. I was doing everything I could to keep him behind me, but he just sailed faster and passed me. By this time we had to turn around anyway, so a few minutes later we tacked and headed back. Wouldn't you know the other boat tacked and sailed past me again on the way back to the marina!
Now I'm going to push my wife harder so next year we replace the 20 year old original Neil Pryde 150 genoa with a new headsail. And I will paint the bottom of the boat so I don't have so much growth. Maybe a folding prop to replace the fixed 3 blade and and and.....
In all seriousness, I like my boat but it burned me to have another, similar size boat, so completely outsail me.
Barry
So my wife, three kids and I are out for a short sail. We didn't have a lot of time, so the plan was get on the boat around 11:00AM, sail for two hours, then get home in time to do some chores.
The weather was just about perfect: temperature in the mid 70's, wind a pretty steady 10-13 kts, starting from the NNW and moving W as we sailed. We were enjoying the day, sailing with full main and 150 genoa. When the wind was 13 or so the boat heeled, but not too much. I was just starting to depower the main by using a lot of halyard tension, full outhaul, that sort of thing.
So why do I hate my boat? Well, at one point we were heading north, about 50 degrees off the apparent wind. The boat was moving well, about 5.5 kts and all were happy. Then I saw a boat behind us, about 500 yards and moving in the same direction. I recognized the boat from the marina, it's a very nice, very new Jenneau, about 36', furling main, 130 or so headsail. So he is on the same course as we are, and he's gaining. Hey, I don't want another boat to sail faster than me. So I have my wife and kids get on the weather rail. I trim the headsail until the telltails are streaming. Then I trim the main to match. The boat is moving a little faster, but the Jenneau just keeps getting closer and closer. I was doing everything I could to keep him behind me, but he just sailed faster and passed me. By this time we had to turn around anyway, so a few minutes later we tacked and headed back. Wouldn't you know the other boat tacked and sailed past me again on the way back to the marina!
Now I'm going to push my wife harder so next year we replace the 20 year old original Neil Pryde 150 genoa with a new headsail. And I will paint the bottom of the boat so I don't have so much growth. Maybe a folding prop to replace the fixed 3 blade and and and.....
In all seriousness, I like my boat but it burned me to have another, similar size boat, so completely outsail me.
Barry