Earl,
The normal full power position for a main has it sheeted hard enough to bring the top batten parallel to the boom and the traveler position high enough that the top ribbon flicks behind the sail occasionally. When you sail to control twist you employ the boom vang to control the height of the boom and take the traveler to windward and sheet to control the boom's horizontal position. Older boats operating in high winds need to work the traveler position and vang pressure in concert or risk bending the boom. When you let out the vang the boom will rise and the sail will begin to twist off at the top as indicated by the top batten blowing down wind of the boom. This spills air from the top of the sail which lowers the center of force on the sail reducing heel dramatically. It's the only twist off allowed on a proper Champagne sail. Phil Agur Capitol City N-Trak - All DCC - Sacramento, CA Mid Century N- California - SP, WP, SF, UP, TWS, and others. <http://capitolcityntrak.org/> http://capitolcityntrak.org <http://www.cuttergraphics.com/N-trak/index.htm> http://www.cuttergraphics.com/N-trak/index.htm -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of el sailor Sent: Friday, July 18, 2008 12:27 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: catalina27-talk: Yesterdays sail Thanks Tom, Good advice. I only have the 150, a newer sail made by North Sail and good for 20 to 25 tops. Not familiar with the term "twist off the top of the main". I do have one reef point also. Have to agree with the dragging the rudder and/or rounding up! Earl ----- Original Message ---- From: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, July 18, 2008 12:54:40 PM Subject: Re: catalina27-talk: Yesterdays sail I have exactly the same boat/rig. I can tell you what I do, though I don't swear to it being "best practice" ....... I'm starting w/a 135 or 155. On a day that shows signs of getting windy, its the 135. The sailmaker rates it as OK to 21 knots. The 155 is a light mylar, old, and I only use it on light air days. As the wind gets up, first thing I do is twist off the top of the main. Next is a pretty deep reef in the main. I only have one reef point and it's a substantial reduction. If I had two points, I'd work through them sequentially. Only after I'm overpowered with a deep reefed main do I reduce headsail size. I let heal angle tell me when to change. I've never been able to get the helm to balance worth a hoot at a heal angle >20 degrees. After that, I'm dragging the rudder through the water and/or rounding up, and basically just forcing things rather than sailing efficiently. The other side of it is, my boat sails nicely with just a working jib on windier days. If I just want to be out on the water and the wind is up, I'll put up a heavy weight, high clewed jib of about 100% that I bought used (well used) off a used sail site. With the main furled away and the boom safely strapped down, I can have fun out there when others are working their butts off. When it's too much for that, it's time to be in the marina. Tom "Tom Deters" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent by: [email protected] 07/18/2008 10:19 AM Please respond to [email protected] To [email protected] cc Subject Re: catalina27-talk: Yesterdays sail All - New to the Cat 27 handling in rougher weather, I find the spade rudder and tiller somewhat difficult, almost uncomfortable to handle in 18-20mph wind. Getting your shoulder wet is great fun, but the tenderness can be ...as the wife would say.."Is it supposed to do this?". This season on Lake Michigan, we have ample wind. I generally reef and unfurl the head sail to find the balance and helm that is manageable. Has ther been any discussion on best performance and sail plan of the Cat 27 in different stink and wave? I have a 1986 TR, Tiller w/ Traveler cabin top. TMDeters Summer Wind Kenosha, WI On 7/17/08, el sailor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: We left about 10 for a "three hour tour". Actually we'd planned to spend most of the day out and about. Some of you may recognized the quoted phrase from the Gillivan's Island theme song. It was a glorious time; the wind started in the West at 5 to 10; by 3 they were out of the East @ 15 to 20 and the waves were 2 - 4 with the occasional 6 - 7 footer. That was our first time rail down on Nautidog. We were running a 150% jenny and an unreefed main. When anyone moved they had a good grip on something. K was laughing and yelling how much it felt like a continuous roller coaster. KatznEarl2 s/v Nautidog #3188 Hampton
