Jeff Morris wrote:

You've mention a "storm anchor" and a "storm jib" several times now. How much
gear do you intend to carry?
How many anchors, what kind of rodes? You realize
that every 100 pounds is a knot off the speed (so says Roger),

Jeff, in a 26-foot boat weighing 3,500 pounds having a normal sail area
of around 300 sq. feet, you don't need a big, heavy storm anchor or a
big, heavy storm jib. They don't weigh very much or take up much space.
(There are storage compartments throughout the boat, incidentally.)

do you really
think you'll be any faster under power than a Cat 30 loaded down with this
stuff?

Maybe. Maybe not. I expect the boat to make good time motoring under
moderate wind contitions, permitting it to motor back before most heavy
weather.

BTW, what kind of storm jib are you going to use with the roller furling jib?

Are you really going to crawl up to the bow offshore in a chop to swap jibs, or
even to set a storm anchor?

The furling jib would have to be taken down and replaced early, before
conditions were excessive. Regarding crawling up on the bow, the Mac
26M has provides access to the jib through the hatch located near the
bow, in which you can stand or sit on the V-berth and reach the jib
through the hatch. It gives slightly better footing than trying to walk
forward topside.

Obviously, this is a small boat, and it would be foolhardy to sail out
in blue water in potentially severe conditions without reefing down
early, motoring back early if unusually severe conditions were
anticipated, and putting a storm jib or storm anchor out early if
necessary.

Jim




"Jim Cate" wrote in message
...


Veridican wrote:


You can sail the Mac 75 miles off shore. A guy went around the world in a 23
foot boat (see the movie The Dove). You can sail any boat 75 miles off

shore.

But everyone wants to act like one boat is better in a storm than another

boat.

BS. If I were 75 miles off shore and got into a squall in a Mac, like I

would

with any damn boat, I'd lower the sails and run with it. Or I'd roll out

just a

little jib and try to keep head to wind.

I think I would put down the sails and deploy a storm anchor, to keep
the bow facing windward. t



I mean, you're not really going to ask me to believe that a Valient 40 is
better off in 30 ft breaking waves than a Mac are you?

Any 26 ft boat should sail the coast line (5-10 miles off shore), not cross

the

ocean. But if you don't get hit by a storm, it really doesn't matter, does

it?

The Veridican

If you were only 5-10 miles offshore and were sailing a Mac with a 50Hp
motor, you could probably motor in before the storm reached you.

Jim