Cats Again
Depends again, as always on the boat. The lagoons are some of the most
popular charter boats and tend to have a charter layout (large births
fore and aft for carrying lots of passengers, wide hulls to carry the
extra provisions for 4 couples). The polars for the lagoon at a beam
reach are at 8 knots of TWS, 5 kts speed; at 10 knts of TWS it goes 6.5
kts; at 14 knots of wind it goes 8 knts. Specs for the St francis
which has much more narrow and faster hulls are at 8 knts TWS it should
go 6.5 knots; at 12 TWS it should go 8.5 knts. This is without a
spinnaker. I have a St Francis 44 and found the specs fairly accurate.
My boat can break 10 knots in about 15 knots of wind and in trade
winds does about 12 knts.
Another transatlantic race, the cape to rio race showed the St francis
comes in with about the same speed as the FARR 40. Considering the St
Francis is hauling around 4 heads, 4 births, and isn't a pure racer
like the FARR, that's pretty good.
Personally, having two engines, with two props, two independent fuel
tanks, etc is more important to me than pure speed. Although
typically I have passed almost every monohull even close to my size,
but again thats not important. And I've got to admit when the wind
dies completely I can motor past a valiant or bristol costing 4 times
as much money as my boat at 10 knots going 30% faster than them, and
under sail I can beat them every time. But it's not important to look
back at their faces and smile. It's really not.
Especially when they are heeled over with their crew being bruised on
the rail and they can see my son playing in a wading pool in the
cockpit. No, it's not important at all.
Cheers!!
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