Jeff wrote:
Yeh, I was thinking of all the playing around I did just to show off in
my youth - single handing from the trapeze on a Tempest, for instance.
Or feathering upwind rather than really pushing, because all I was after
was the the big gust to take us downwind. The real racers probably
winced at my antics, but I had fun. My point is, though, one should
understand the difference.


Yeah sure... and also, it takes some skill to do these kinds
of show-off moves; and by pushing the boat to do unlikely
things you learn more about how boats behave.



OTOH it's also nice to have a boat that really scoots when well
handled, and lets you know what it likes.


Its funny, most of the time we don't think about it - we just got used
to doing 7-9 knots instead of 5-7, and we don't worry much about getting
in before dark. But every now and then I notice we've been doing 10+
knots for a while and I remember this is a bit different from the old
Nonsuch.


One of the things I have not liked about multis is the lack
of feel. Usually the helm is more of a brake and the sails
looks to be oversheeted... then you notice that if you ease,
the boat slows down. It may just be that I have never worked
at developing reflexes appropriate to sailing a multi; but I
also wonder if it's not one of the reason why some sailors
flip big cats... no message getting thru that something bad
is about to happen.

With regard to the issue of VMG, polars are usually drawn up
either from VPPs or from the flattest water testing
available over a long period of time. Boats will go best at
significantly lower angles (ie pointed further away from the
wind) as chop & waves build up.

On glassy flat water, a Lightning can tack thru a smidge
less than 70 degrees while tearing along. It feels almost
like going straight upwind and makes those
off-the-start-line pinching contests really impressive. I'd
like to try it with an Etchells!

Fresh Breezes- Doug King