I think the most import issue regarding having
a weatherly boat is the ability to claw off a
lee shore--that is survivability.

So you brought up a very good point Thom! Points
to you. If you are freezing cold, wet, seasick,
and hungry, the upwind performance of the boat
will not matter much.

Bart Senior

(Thom Stewart) wrote

Bart,

James question should be answered. It was a good question. Define
WEATHERLY? That is very important to be clear on what is meant by
Weatherly.

Doug's answer explains a boats ability to go to "weather" Jeff
indicated VMG. They are only part of a good weatherly Boat.

In the last Am Cup Race, the KIWI"s had a boat that could go to wind at
a great angle. The POS needed full pumps and a man with a bucket to get
rid of the stern wave.

Any cruiser, worth his "Salt" would give away a little VMG for a dry
boat that will get up wind reasonable in a dry, comfortable fashion.
When beating into the wind for a couple of days, VMG isn't as important
as a dry boat that doesn't pound your teeth out. A boat that will trim
out at a decent heel (About 15 to 20 deg) that doesn't pull your arm out
of your shoulder socket with windward helm. A boat that will let you fry
an egg in the galley that is nearly round while climbing on the wind
near or on a 45 deg heading into the wind. Some of us Ole Timers would
call a boat that tacks thru 100 deg that has the other point a very,
very satisfactory "Weatherly Vessel"

A boat that can be trimmed with back stay tension, cunningham and maybe
barbar hauled sheet (If necessary) a weatherly rig. No jacks or sail
changes. That would be a Weatherly rig

A Hull shaped so that it wouldn't round up in a 25 Deg heel and carry a
neutral helm. A helm that would add enough reserved buoyancy in a heel
to keep the hull close to under the sail to maintain a heading

If it had all these characteristics and sailed like a witch would be
perfect!

Would you like to see the pictures of "Peunma" again?

Ole Thom