Capt. Rob wrote:
Each boat is different. In this case, both RB's
and my boat will gain VMG by footing off. However, the optimal point
for the 35s5 is maybe 38 degrees with a VMG of 5.2 (I'm guessing)
while mine is 43 with a VMG of 5.5.


At 38 degrees the 35s5 shows 6.4 knots with a VMG of 5.855.

No - those numbers don't compute. The 6.4 is reasonable, but that
implies VMG of 5.04. And remember the 40.7 only does 6.8 at 38 degrees.

I expect
that Donal's 33.7 points a bit better than my boat and I think you're
underselling the performance of the First Series boats, which is well
regarded.

I'm not underselling, I'm quoting the polars of the 40.7. I gather
Beneteau is so proud (rightfully so) of them that they're posted next
to the helm on every boat. In light air the 40.7 clearly beats the
PDQ, by as much as 20%, but that evens up at around 10 knots. At 12
knots the cat pulls ahead and at higher winds its faster a almost
every point of sail.

In addition, if I'm heading home on a port tack, about to come around
an obstacle, I will well apreciate the 35s5's pointing ability and 5.8
knots is just fine. I'm sitting there, holding the big wheel, little
Thomas at my side. I'd like to just hold my course, clear the obstacle
and keep on sailing. You would have me fall off, gather speed, tack,
blah blah. What's the hurry all the time? Just SAIL and use the boat's
pointing potential from time to time.

You're really quibbling over a few degrees, and a few tenths of a
knot. A cat will point almost as high as a mono, its just not worth
it because it goes so much faster by footing off. Yes, a mono may
shoot around an obstacle a bit better. I suppose in your mind that's
a good reason to chose a boat.


Boats that can point better are just more fun, or as someone a lot
smarter than me wrote,

Boats that do 12 knots with little effort are fun. You're just
infatuated about pointing because you learned about it this year.



"The boat with greater directional control is usually thought to be the
better design."

??? And this means what, that fin keel boat are bad because they
need help to have any control?


Suitability is everything...something Jeff doesn't seem to understand.
I've already sailing the 35s5 across a series of days where the PDQ
would have crawled by comparison, though Jeff readily admits he motors
in such conditions.

I've said many times that your boat is a reasonable choice for light
air, flat water, day sailing. The rest of us have real boats for the
real world.

Here we are again, Jeff. Hope you're happy!

I'll be happier on Saturday, when we're on our way to the Vineyard.