windage

[rskaug]

My balboa ''27 has (just) standing headroom and naturally high freeboard for its length. Am I right that this works more against me as the wind kicks up and I reduce sail? I''m planning to go to a larger boat and have been looking at catamarans for comfort and liveability, but the boats that have accomodations and rig that suit me have the profile of a loaf of bread. I''m wondering how the freeboard effects sailing characteristics.
Thanks, Dick

[c172guy]

Everything that I''ve read says that all things being equal a boat with a lot of freeboard doesn''t sail as well. My experience is the same. Two of the disadvantages of Catamarans are the high windage and the more jerky motion at sea. That being said I''d buy a cruising catamaran if I could afford one. I like their relative speed and shoal draft. Being permanently in the turtle position is a scarey thought but so is sinking.

[paulk]

Maybe the thing to do is to get a ride on some other boats so you have a better idea of what to expect. "More windage" is a relative term, and its effect will vary a lot depending upon how deep and long your keel or centerboard are, as well as how tall or short the rig is. How hard the wind blows makes a difference too. Around here, 25 knots of breeze may make people re-think heading out, while it''s the norm in other places.

[c172guy]

I was looking at a Cape Dory 25 this weekend. It is not a catalina. Long and thin with a low freeboard. I think you can reach the water with your hand from the cockpit. It would have to be the antithesis of a modern high freeboard beamy production boat. It would be really cool to take it and say a Cataina 250 out on the same day. The Cape Dory looks so classic!!!! OTOH the Cat would probably be faster and more comfortable in light winds. But with higher winds especially beating the CD would be the boat.

[Jeff_H]

Actually in high winds, especially beating the CD 25 would not be the boat. In those conditions they are comparably tender, wet,tend to pitch, while the other two boats would out point and out foot the CD 25. But the CD looks classic.

Jeff

[BigRed56]

Ahoy, Windage you say well shucks ne custom made english Yawl gots so mush windage dat a couple of fellows accused me of cheating in a race de othe day cause I was beating dem broadside to de wind wit me sails down and dem fighting to keep dem silly spinnakers set. Go figure. Pirate of Pine Island

[msl]

RED !!! where have you been? Inquireing minds want to know.......
Mark L.

[BigRed56]

Check out the post in General dicussion, Pirates in reality have to duck the law from time to time, or wallow in drunked stupers to kill the pain of our debauchery. Pirate of Pine Island.