"DSK" wrote in message

Why would a 'sugar scoop' transom be a problem in a seaway, given
mostly-competent design & construction of the boat?

Well... it's a fgree entry point for inwash. Not a terrible thing if you
have proper watertight companionway fittings and will drain as easily as it
fills .... but still the design allows much more water into the cockpit
than the standard enclosed type.

That's because they were either not fast boats to begin with, or because
they were incompetently sailed.

Well that would assume my competency and the assumption the other vessels
were crewed by incompetents. I doubt that was the case Doug. I attribute it
to the facility of my vessel in rough seas. They seemed to "pound" much more
to windward. They also seemed to lack momentum to overcome the sea state.

On it's best day, your boat is going to have a very hard time putting in
200+ miles days, which should be easily achievable with a racier boat in
good driving conditions.

I can maintain an easy 7 knots in good winds, even in roughest seas. Some of
the other vessels can surpass that ... but not continuously for long
durations. That may be my boat's advantage.


Would you call a Niagra 35 a "light to moderate displacement" boat? It's
SA/D is a whopping 16 and the D/L is 350! Very nice boat, but hardly what
anybody is going to consider "racy."

It's a much larger vessel..... I don't know enough about racing to know if
it's that fast or not. It has taken a lot of races in Yellowknife.


As for going DDW in a blow, it can be done... and is done... pretty
regularly by good racing crews, unless it's faster to reach. Shucks, I've
raced Lightnings and 470s, including a few memorable spinnaker runs, in
winds north of 40 knots. It's fun!

I met with the Captains after the race... none to a man would have dared try
that with their boats except for one really competitive racer... he dropped
a reef and changed headsails to catch up... he broached. Everyone was amazed
at the downwind tracking ability of my boat. She was a dream to sail during
that race and never taxed the crew. Boats ranged form a C&C27 to a Frasier
42. the Contessa 32s couldn't even qualify to be within reach of me and the
Niagara 35 was 2 miles behind when I crossed the line. They Niagara finished
2nd. place.

I can't match a fin keeler on harbour races... my vessel isn't designed for
that. Given the proper conditions.... it can achieve it's potential and
that will outstrip some racing designs. Overall it's a comfortable vessel
with an adequate turn of speed. It's forgiving and well mannered.

CM