Compared with the Elissa, the Mac 26M seems more comfortable under sail.
On the Elissa, for example, we had to climb 100 feet up the masts to
adjust the topgallant, and it gets pretty wild up there when the wind
picks up, Jon. (Don't know whether you have ever climbed the rigging on
a tall rigger under sail or not. - Have you?) By contrast, on my Mac,
the lines are led aft to the cockpit, so you don't have to climb the
mast at all. Also, the Elissa (141-ft waterline) had a rather pronounced
pitching motion under sail that got on your nerves after a few hours.
The Mac, of course, can either sail, or plane at 14-16 knots over most
waters, which I find more comfortable.

However, the Elissa has put in many more miles at sea than my boat or
most modern vessels, since it was under sail, and later, power, for a
period of 100+ years, crossing the Atlantic many times. It was selected
for the maritime museum in Galveston because it was a part of
Galveston's history, bringing cargo there from South America and England
in the 1800's.

Jim




Capt. JG wrote:

Yes, not many real sailors have "experienced" the Mac26M. :-)