However, he is right in the case of adverse conditions. A 3 foot chop that would frustrate a 25
footer and force it to foot off to keep way on, might not bother a 50 foot vessel.

--
-jeff

"DSK" wrote in message ...


Jack wrote:

I have a friend who insists that longer boats characteristically point
higher than shorter ones. He doesn't have an explanation except that his
observations over the years. I wonder if this is true or if there is some
other variable (longer boats have room to sheet their headsails more
inboard, etc)

It might be more fruitful to discuss this issue over at rec.boats.racing but
FWIW here's my opinion: your friend is talking thru his hat. LOA has *nothing*
to do with pointing. If you want to see a graphic demonstration, take as
large a keelboat as you can muster and get into a pinching contest with a
Laser or 420.

There are a whole lot of factors that go into making a boat point high or not,
but two improtant ones are the relative size, placement, & efficiency of the
air & water foils. A boat with a baggy sprit rig can point surprisingly high
if it's underwater foils are matched to the demands of the rig, while a modern
go-fast rig will not point for squat if the centerboard/keel is not capable of
meeting the demand placed on it.

If I were to try and make a simple generalized rule, I'd say that beamy boats
with skimpy underwater foils tend to point less well. But off the top of my
head I can also think of two exceptions. You can see why I'm not a fan of this
type of vague abstract theorizing.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King