| I'd also appreciate a few suggestions. I'm taking a test sail soon
as well. The points I expected to check out (weather permitting)
were:
(in no priority order)
1. Pointing ability
2. Ease of sail handling
3. Winch size and location
4. Sail trim feedback
5. 'tender ' vs stiff
6. Engine noise
7. Powering through chop/current
8. Pounding vs slicing
Rick
* As with anything else, I'm sure Ill get out there and be so taken
away with the new toy, Ill forget all the above items.
|
| Hope for a quite windy day with big seas. You won't learn much sailing
in a light breeze on a calm sea.
1. Sail close hauled. How does the boat react to the waves? Does it have
the power to go through them with a reasonable amount of sail? Does the
bow slam down or is the motion more gentle? How does the boat track?
Does it stay on course if you hold the wheel or tiller motionless? Is
the boat easy to steer? Is the boat intially tender or stiff? Does it
become more stiff or more tender as the angle of heel increases? How
does the boat react to a gust? Does the angle of heel increase
significantly or just a little? How much water or spray is coming over
the bow? Does that water or spray reach the helmsperson? Is the boat
comfortable to steer at large angles of heel? How much weather helm is
there? Does the weather helm increase significantly as the angle of heel
increases? Go to the foredeck and change the headsail. Would you feel
comfortable alone up there in a gale? Does the boat slow significantly
as the lee rail goes under? How much leeway does it make? How much does
it pitch? Now go below. Try using the toilet (which is located in the
head). Can you use it comfortably or at all on either tack? Try the
chart table. Can you plot a course with the boat bouncing about? Take a
nap. Can you stay in the berth and sleep? Can you get into and out of
all berths safely with your eyes closed and with the boat leaping around?
Are there any good sea berths? Go to the galley and make a hot lunch.
How hard was it? How many handholds are there? Take off and put on your
foul weather pants. Were you able to do it safely or did you get thrown
across the cabin? If the latter, what sharp objects did or could you
have hit? At what wind speed do you have to begin to reef? How easy is
the boat to tack? How much speed is lost when tacking?
2. Now sail on a beam reach at right angles to the waves. How much does
the boat roll? Is the rolling quick or slow? Is the rolling uncomfortable?
3. Now sail downwind. How well does the boat track? Is there a tendency
to broach or yaw excessively? What happens when you hold the tiller or
wheel motionless? How easy is the steering? How pleasant is the motion?
In doing all of this keep firmly in mind what you intend to use the boat
for. If you are going cruising, I would suggest that comfort, safety,
gentle motion, and easy steering are more important than boat speed. If
you intent to race, then boat speed and pointing ability above all else.
After seven years we are still learning how our boat behaves, so don't
expect to learn everything in two or three hours. Have fun,
Alan
PS A personal comment. I'm not too concerned with powering into a chop.
I have found sailing is always more comfortable than motoring. If the
boat can't be sailed in any and all conditions, it isn't safe.
|