Bart Senior wrote:
I just read about Dorade's record run from Newport to
Plymouth. I didn't think it was such a long trip.

I just looked up the distance between New York and
London: 3471

I thought that trip would be shorter and quicker.

If I decide to sail that, I'd need to averaged around 8 knots
to match Dorade's record. My waterline is the same, and
wetted surface is similar. I guess you can hitch a lift from the
Gulf Stream too.

It's still hard to maintain the average unless you deliberately court
strong winds, which is a risky game in the North Atlantic. A few hours
of light air, or wind on the nose, and there goes your hope of making a
good time.


Does anyone have a copy of the Sailing Directions for the
North Atlantic? What is the best route? Expected wind
directions and strenghts.

Well, I have Donald Street's book "Seawise" and he talks about it. Here
are the pilot charts of the North Atlantic, they are in BIG pdf format.

http://pollux.nss.nima.mil/pubs/pubs...html?rid=10499

You can't take a great circle route (unless you have wheels on the
boat). But you can swing well north and come close to great circle while
also picking up a boost from currents.


By the way Doug, my Dad had two models of sailing
yachts that looked like Bolero w/o the mizzen. It
turns out the mizzen was often removed when racing.

Yes, it did nothing except provide a nice place to fly flags & hold the
boat steady at anchor. Maybe shade the cockpit. Nonetheless there was
(still is AFAIK) a rating bonus for the yawl rig, which is why they had
it to start with.


Did you see the picture of Bolero on that page you
referenced?

Oh yes. Beautiful boat. I have a big book of S&S designs that I take
down and contemplate from time to time. The 6-meter 'Goose' is one of my
favorites, too.

Olin Stephens got a big break working with Starling Burgess (an
outstanding genius in his own right) on the J-class 'Ranger.' It was an
unusual design but sailed extremely well... and Burgess agreed to keep
it a secret that the hull lines were done by Stephens. Look for the
replica of Ranger to clean house racing against her sister Js.

http://www.sy-ranger.com/

I don't like the dog house they've added. It ruins the look of the boat
IMHO. BTW the transom of the original Ranger was saved when she was
scrapped, and ended up as a decoration for Endeavor's cabin... I guess
because that's the only view Endeavor had of her

This web site has a small 3-D development of Ranger's lines
http://www.acrossthepond.net/JClassBoat.htm

Fresh Breezes- Doug King