The Best Looking Boat
 

"Gary" wrote in message
news:owOjf.6463$Gd6.3656@pd7tw3no...
Capt. Rob wrote:
The Nordica will sail circles, figure eights and hexagons around the
Sea Sprite 34.


RB
35s5
NY

Interesting how it is boats that win races when it's someone elses and
skippers that win races when its your own. I would like to sail both
these boats but I think the Sea Sprite would have it on comfort and
liveability and the Nordica might be a bit quicker of the mark. In a long
distance race I would prefer the SS, in a beer can I would prefer the
Nordica or the 35s5.

There is no way the Nordica will sail circles around the Sea Sprite. Both
vessels are cruisers and designed for a wide range of conditions. The 35s5
isn't of the size that it's light air design and fin keel wouldn't make long
passages stressful for the crew. In a harbour beer can race, neither the Sea
Sprite nor the Nordica would stand a chance against the 35s5. If it was a
long distance race with open water ..... the playing field would prefer the
cruisers.

I sail out on the ocean just south of Halifax ... off Peggy's Cove. [ Swiss
Air Disaster area] We get rough water on many occasions. I've done the
passage between Mahone Bay and Prospect [40nm] during 46 kt sustained and
20ft+ seas. [2 reefs in the main and a 100% jib] Surf was breaking onto the
roadway at Cranberry cove. It was a wickedly fun trip and we took no green
water the entire way. I know the speeds my vessel is capable of maintaining
in 20 ft seas.... it's nothing short of impressive. Surfing the rollers
coming into Prospect Head was awesome.

CM

The Best Looking Boat
 

Capt.Mooron wrote:
"Gary" wrote in message


One of the things you have to remember with designs like the Sea Sprite,
is that they increase waterline length significantly as they heel and they
always heel. If you increase her waterline by 2 feet the D/LWL drops to
335. 3 feet makes it 290. The Sail Calc numbers are just for upright
boats. Unlike modern boat with fat asses, the older boats were meant to
be sailed on their sides. The old boat I sail has a waterline length of
63 feet or so but we always sail her on her ear and the water line is up
around 80+ feet. The length on deck is about 96'. Modern boats gain no
WL when heeled and in fact some racers try to heel them in light airs to
reduce wetted area. They are meant to be sailed flat as they lever the
rudders out when heeled excessively. Note the prevalence of twin rudders
lately so sleds don't wipe out as much.


I can concur with your observations Gary..... yet it's not LWL alone that
will qualify speed potential. Basically I believe both the Sea Sprite &
Nordica are downwind oriented vessels. Sail Area, wetted surface and
displacement are mitigating factors as to speed potential off the wind. My
Nordica carries her beam well forward and aft of amidships. From the
description of sailing given by Max... I can agree with his descriptions of
fair upwind and absolutely astounding downwind performance with my vessel as
well. I don't have a racing boat... not even close. I cruise and take my
time. It's the journey and not the destination.

CM


I think our boats are quite similar. Mine has a different underbody but
I would bet they sail about the same. I'm with ya on the cruising.
Things are so close here that it's never a rush just the pleasure of
sailing. I haven't had much downwind experience (only owned the boat
1.5 years and every time I head out the wind is on the nose (either that
or there is too much or too little). I don't race this boat, it's just
too expensive on gear and hard on the boat. I beat my Ranger 26 to
death around the buoys.

The Best Looking Boat
 

The 35s5
isn't of the size that it's light air design and fin keel wouldn't make
long
passages stressful for the crew. In a harbour beer can race, neither
the Sea
Sprite nor the Nordica would stand a chance against the 35s5. If it was
a
long distance race with open water ..... the playing field would
prefer the
cruisers.


Mooron, don't get too carried away by the 35s5's racing ability. I
seriously doubt ANY long range conditions would favor the Sea Sprite or
Nordica. You may be more comfortable, but you won't be in front. The
35s5 is used for offshore racing, long distance cruising and has
circumnavigated. At 11'460 lbs and near 30 feet LWL it's not very
heavy, but it's not a Mumm 30 either.

RB
35s5
NY

The Best Looking Boat
 

It's just not a fast boat. In the world of cruiser/racers and
racer/cruisers, it
is a cruiser/cruiser.


I believe the official classification is Snoozer/Cruiser for the Sea
Sprite 34. The PDQ rates as a Loser/Cruiser, but only when Jeff's
aboard.

RB
35s5
NY

The Best Looking Boat
 

So Canook do you even have a boat? Something bigger than a sunfish?
And I'm not talking about so derelict Canaduh navy skow.

Joe

The Best Looking Boat
 

Capt. Rob wrote:
The 35s5
isn't of the size that it's light air design and fin keel wouldn't make
long
passages stressful for the crew. In a harbour beer can race, neither
the Sea
Sprite nor the Nordica would stand a chance against the 35s5. If it was
a
long distance race with open water ..... the playing field would
prefer the
cruisers.


Mooron, don't get too carried away by the 35s5's racing ability. I
seriously doubt ANY long range conditions would favor the Sea Sprite or
Nordica. You may be more comfortable, but you won't be in front. The
35s5 is used for offshore racing, long distance cruising and has
circumnavigated. At 11'460 lbs and near 30 feet LWL it's not very
heavy, but it's not a Mumm 30 either.

RB
35s5
NY

My limited experience would indicate that the 35s5 will feel like it's
going to come apart long before the Sea Sprite or Nordica. I think that
ratings would favour the Sea Sprite.

The Best Looking Boat
 

My limited experience would indicate that the 35s5 will feel like it's
going to come apart long before the Sea Sprite or Nordica. I think
that
ratings would favour the Sea Sprite.


Gary, that idea of a boat "coming apart" shows how little experience
you have. Even the lowest end boats will hold together just fine. The
35s5 has circumnavigated as a stock boat.

RB
35s5
NY

The Best Looking Boat
 

Commodore Joe Redcloud wrote:
On Fri, 02 Dec 2005 02:33:47 GMT, Gary wrote:


Capt.Mooron wrote:

Heh..... here is the sailcalc comparison between a Sea Sprite 34 & the
Nordica 30. I believe the Nordica 30 has a 180 PHRF. I think the telling
factor lies in the displacement to LWL which places the Sea Sprite in the
very heavy cruiser class at over 400.

Performance Comparison LOA Sea Sprite 34 34.08

Nordica 30 29.49

LWL Sea Sprite 34 24.26

Nordica 30 25

Beam Sea Sprite 34 10.4

Nordica 30 9.77

Displacement Sea Sprite 34 13208

Nordica 30 10220

Sail Area Sea Sprite 34 535

Nordica 30 502

Capsize Ratio Sea Sprite 34 1.76

Nordica 30 1.8

Hull Speed Sea Sprite 34 6.6

Nordica 30 6.7

Sail Area to Displacement Sea Sprite 34 15.32

Nordica 30 17.06

Displacement to LWL Sea Sprite 34 413

Nordica 30 292

LWL to Beam Sea Sprite 34 2.33

Nordica 30 2.56

Motion Comfort Sea Sprite 34 32.9

Nordica 30 28.57

Pounds/Inch Sea Sprite 34 902

Nordica 30 873


"Maxprop" wrote in message


I'll grant that CCA-type boats were relatively common in the 40s and 50s,
but not today. She never fails to attract compliments and photographers
like flies every time she's on the water. And at the dock. Her curving
sheerline and aesthetic overhangs never fail to draw praise and smiles.


That would be a serious mistake if you chose to race against my boat in,
say, a fin keel Catalina 34 with a PHRF of 144. My boat tends to sail
with C34s upwind and beats them easily off the wind or downwind. My boat
placed second in her class in the Chicago-Mac. Her rating of 190 is a
gift.



The Nordic isn't the prettiest of the canoe stern boats, but it is better
looking than, say, something with a horrendous, big-ass swim platform.

Max




One of the things you have to remember with designs like the Sea Sprite,
is that they increase waterline length significantly as they heel and
they always heel. If you increase her waterline by 2 feet the D/LWL
drops to 335. 3 feet makes it 290. The Sail Calc numbers are just for
upright boats. Unlike modern boat with fat asses, the older boats were
meant to be sailed on their sides. The old boat I sail has a waterline
length of 63 feet or so but we always sail her on her ear and the water
line is up around 80+ feet. The length on deck is about 96'. Modern
boats gain no WL when heeled and in fact some racers try to heel them in
light airs to reduce wetted area. They are meant to be sailed flat as
they lever the rudders out when heeled excessively. Note the prevalence
of twin rudders lately so sleds don't wipe out as much.


In light wind, the SS34 will not be heeling, just when it needs that extra
waterline the most. In moderate winds, it heels, making the already deficient
mast height effectively even lower and the undersized sails catch less wind.
It's just not a fast boat. In the world of cruiser/racers and racer/cruisers, it
is a cruiser/cruiser.


Commodore Joe Redcloud
And the problem is?

The Best Looking Boat
 

Joe wrote:
So Canook do you even have a boat? Something bigger than a sunfish?
And I'm not talking about so derelict Canaduh navy skow.

Joe

Nice!

The Best Looking Boat
 

So have 60 ft sleads, The thing is your going to work your ass off to
make a long passage Bob, a real cruising vessel is set up right and
pretty much take care or herself. Unless you have a tough well tested
crew of 3 I would not want to make an ocean passage on a 35s5. And as
OZ has pointed out you have a good chance of having your rudder wiped
out late at night, which on a 35s5 looks like it might take the rudder
and sugar scoop out in one big crunch.

You better stick to LIS and her light breezes and mild chopp.

Joe