DSK wrote:



Not in my experience. Most boats like about 12 degrees of heel. The
Soling (a relatively narrow boat) sailors I know say their boats like
18. I would generalize to say that narrower & heavier boats like more
heel, but in cases where the keels and/or rigs get dramatically less
efficient with increased angle, it would be beneficial to take some
serious sailing tests to determine the desirable range of heel for most
conditions.


Bluster all you like but 30 degrres for max boat speed is still quite
usual. How about a designer of the Volvo 60:

"Roll, baby, roll …
Volvo 70’s must be designed to stringent large-heel-angle stability
criteria. While a canting keel increases stability (or righting moment)
dramatically under

typical sailing conditions (say 30 degrees of heel),

its offset CG actually works against a self-righting tendency at large,
knockdown heel angles. Accordingly, Volvo 70 Rule developers have
closely examined limitations on hull displacement and beam that affect
form stability, with additional limitations on keel weight and keel
swing angles. Each yacht shall have a designer-calculated limit of
positive stability greater than 115 degrees, with appendages positioned
in a worst-case scenario. In addition, each boat must successfully
self-right from a 180-degree inversion using only manual power to
articulate the keel."

http://www.perrottidesign.com/new_Volvo_Open70.html

Cheers