Capt. Rob wrote:
Jeff has finally admitted the reasons why, for many sailing
enthusiasts, a cat like the PDQ 36 can't be considered. As a family
cruiser platform it certainly offers a stable platform. But the
tradition of sailing is what most of us prefer, and that included
healing and the most important thing of all....Upwind ability where a
multi faulters 10 degrees or more away from a boat like mine. On a long
reach Jeff's boat is faster, but in any real race on various tacks, the
PDQ couldn't even STAY ON the course.

Finally admitted??? I finally admitted that cats don't point well???
And that's thats the best you've got?

Booby, have you ever heard of VMG? Pointing ability is only one
component of going upwind, speed is another. We don't have the polars
for either of our boats, but we can make some guesses. Here's the
polar for a Beneteau First 407, designed by Farr, and a much better
upwind performer than yours:
http://www.1stsailing.com/Boats/BoaI...hnicalData.jpg

Speed at 45 degrees true tops out at a bit over 7 knots. Multiplying
by the cosine of 45 degrees (0.707), we get a VMG (Velocity Made Good)
of about 5. The Benny can point a tad higher, but if it loses even
half a knot the VMG drops. The actual optimum point may be 40-42
degrees but there is actually very little difference between that and
45, except on the race course where pointing can be a tactical
advantage. So how does this compare to a 35s5? The 407 has PHRF of
57 compared to around 130 for the smaller version, so that's over a
minute a mile or at perhaps 10% on VMG. So the upper limit of VMG for
the 35s5 might be 4.5 knots.

Now, how about a cat? If we foot off all the way to 60 degrees true,
VMG will be half of boat speed, so we have to do 9 knots, which the
PDQ will do in 18 knots. Of course the comment of 60 degrees is
fairly approximate, if the optimum is actually at 55 degrees, then the
cat only has to do a bit over 8 knots to beat the monohull.

Its pretty clear that in a breeze, the cat can keep up with, or even
beat a Benny upwind. In lighter air the cat's speed will drop off
faster, so upwind the cat will fall behind.

But this is only part of the story. We haven't factored in leeway.
The Benny may point at 45 degrees, but what's its actually course?
Heeled on its ear, its making at least 3 degrees of leeway,
considerably more if its puffy. At 3 degrees the hit to VMG is 5%, at
5 degrees the hit is over 10%. In fact, on a puffy day, it takes
considerable skill and attention to get the most of the Benny. The
cat, on the other hand, will be going flat and fast at 60 degree true,
with minimal work. A number of times we've blown past a mono stalled
out in a puff, heeled over, making maybe 15 degrees leeway, sometime
worse.

So what's the true break even point? It would depend a lot on the
conditions. In protected fla****er and steady wind, it might be 16
knots, add a chop and puffs and it might be 12 knots of wind. With a
full crew in a race the benny might do better; shorthanded the cat is
easier to keep moving. On a small race course, a mono certainly has a
tactical advantage, but remember that the small version of my cat
races at a PHRF equivalent of about 104.

This is before we take into account Bob's primary claim, that most
people prefer a boat the heels and goes upwind as fast as possible,
especially in light air. Frankly, I don't care what "most" people
prefer, I only care what suits my needs. Certainly, if your sailing
is limited to a few hours of daysailing, its understandable that you
want to get the most "sailing" out of it. In fact, I sail at a local
club where I can take out a racing dink, or more likely a Rhodes 19,
so I can do some daysailing and get the real "experience."

But my purpose in having a larger boat is to go cruising, which
usually means traveling 100 miles or more to interesting destinations.
I have no desire so spend a whole day heeled over 40 degrees, or
making 2 knots VMG upwind in light air. In fact, I never heard a
cruiser say they want to heel more, and there are rather few that will
"take what comes" and wander around in a drifter. Go ask at any
cruising anchorage and you'll that 90% of the would prefer to sail
flatter, and most would fire up the engine when the VMG goes below
half of their normal "good" speed.


So...in Jeff's OWN WORDS, ladies and gentlemen...


I know what I said, and stand by it. Does Bob know what he's talking
about? Doubtful.


And so...with winds below 10 knots MANY times in MANY areas, the PDQ
gets an engine workout.

So would many other boats. Do you have a point? Cruising boats often
don't do well in light air??? What a revelation!!


With limited upwind performance the engines get
another workout. 45-50 degrees is NOT ACCEPTABLE.

Then you better get rid of your Bendy, because it doesn't do
significantly better than 45 degrees. You really don't know anything
about sailing, do you, Bob?

I bet newer multis manage better.

Sure, lots have daggerboards. In fact, you could buy my boat with
daggerboards. I didn't have that option at the time, but it isn't
something I would want to sacrifice convenience and interior space
for. Raising the VMG from 2 to 3 knots doesn't mean much - I've
freely admitted I probably be powering at 8 knots in that case. And
so would most other cruisers.

On the LIS these boats have to be motored much of the
time and these are otherwise classic sailing grounds hosting some great
sailing events. We see few Multi's sailing and for good reason...sooner
or later you need to sail upwind better than 50 degrees!

Gee, do you think maybe that's why I said this boat is an appropriate
choice for you? I'll say it again: A Beneteau 35s5 is possibly the
best boat for someone who only sails 5 miles from his slip in light
air. Are you happy now?



RB
35s5...the best performing boat on LIS, but not anyplace a real sailor would want to be!
NY