"CANDChelp" wrote in message
...
Purely out of interest, why do you see strangeness in that
particular comment? (I will explain my interest, if you like).

Donal displays his incredible lack of sailing knowledge at every turn.
With a
comment like his, it's easy to see why he bought into Beneteau ads.
He found the 31 tough to steer? What boat is tough to steer when trimmed
correctly. Answer: None, not even the 31 with it's cruising underbody.
Please explain YOUR interest.

Well Bob, let me explain it for you.

Here is what I wrote:-
"The last time that I helmed an Oceanis, I thought that there was a serious
problem with the wheel steering. It turned out that I just wasn't used to
the small rudder."


I was on a sailing holiday which included the free use of some 10y/o 30'
ex-charter Oceanis boats.

I took the family out on one of these for a day sail.

The first time that I swung the wheel around - nothing happened for about
1-2 seconds. During these 1 to 2 seconds I thought that the steering had
failed. After a couple of seconds the boat began to respond, and I realised
that the steering was working.

On Setanta, the rudder is only a couple of inches shorter than the keel.
You can always spot a First series boat on the hard because the rudder is
longer than nearly all the other boats' rudders.


So you see, I was accustomed to a boat responding instantly to the
slightest touch on the tiller. The Oceanis has a much smaller rudder, and
for about 2 seconds *maximum* I thought that the steering had failed.


I don't think that you can suggest that I displayed a lack of sailing skills
in my actions. After all, like you I am a relative newcomer to sailing.
Unlike you, I am making some effort to gain some real experience.



Regards


Donal
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