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.

"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

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.