Tim, I don't see the contradiction. Sailing isn't digital, although when I talked to Stan Honey, Pyewackett's navigator, just before they smashed Merlin's Hawaii record I wasn't sure about that anymore. He had set up 3 computers and dozens of sensors all stored in a polar chart model with a nag program. If they weren't sailing the boat at its own record for those conditions it nagged, Your Slow!" They beat a twenty year record by a day!
You said, "all had virtually draft free sails, when a drum furler was used." That's not how stock Catalina sails come new, and you know what happens when they get older. Although maybe Mylar sails flatten a bit as they age, they are not stock, and a racer wouldn't phrased his question the same. We also haven't determined if there's a double swivel involved, which as you know means there are some sail trim options to affect the draft that many cruising boats end up having to overlook. I've actually sailed up to a couple I knew on SF Bay who was rail down at half boat speed just really slogging in 20 knots and walking them through how to re-trim to get up on her feet and moving. Their biggest problem, besides not being a Catalina owner, was the remainder of the headsail which looked like a laundry bag at that point. It was giving no drive at all and just forcing them over. I know it's hard to see such things when trying to lay the mark. Next time you're out and see a boat really taking a beat down in choppy fresh conditions go take a closer look. The hardest thing is getting them to trim for acceleration rather than speed so they can power through the chop. Phil -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of tim ford Sent: Friday, July 18, 2008 10:55 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: catalina27-talk: Yesterdays sail >>Beyond 10% they start to get dangerous as the material that is sewn in to form the draft of the sail does not get taken in any faster than the rest of the material. This pushing of the draft material back into the unfurled portion of the sail increases the draft of the remaining sail area dramatically. Increasing draft is opposite from what is desired when trying to flatten sail and/or reef to deal with building winds. Not to be a contrarian, but I don't think I've never witnessed this^. The RF boats I've salied, four or five different J105s, a C&C 27, a Hunter 28.5 an ETAP 30 and an Omega 36, among others, all had flatter, virtually draft-free sails when a drum furler was used to significantly reduce sail. If the max draft on a theoretically perfect genoa is at 35-40%, when the sail area is reduced, that max draft spot is going to be drawn up closer to the furling drum, leaving the relatively flat aft 2/3rds of the sail unfurled as the resulting foil. Anyway, that's what I've observe........ but maybe I was seeing things all wrong? possibly? tf
