I disagree. I've never ever sailed one that wouldn't "go fast
enough" under main alone. The problem is not top speed, it's how you
try to get the boat to accelerate from stopped.


Roger Long wrote:
That's a pretty silly disagreement since you haven't sailed my boat.

How do you know?

Actually I have sailed one enough like it that there should
be any big differences.

I wasn't talking about the fuzzy concept of "fast enough", my boat
does that.

Well, I was. And it's not a "fuzzy concept" at all. Making a
positive VMG to windward with a handicap like a compromised
rig, or under other adverse circumstances, is both very
quantifiable and very important.


... I was talking about the more quantifiable ability to
continue steering itself with the helm locked long enough to go down
below and get more clothes, check a chart without getting spray on it,
grab something to eat, or walk up to the bow to tend to something.

Two words.... auto pilot.

.... My
specific, individual, boat does that when sailing at the speed that it
can maintain under main when slowing down from a full sail plan or
motor sailing. It won't do it at the speed it can reach with its
relatively small main alone, even working up from a broad reach.

Even under a full sail plan, most boats will slow down to a higher
speed in many conditions than they can be accelerated to. On my boat,
in strong winds, that speed difference just brackets the conditions of
equilibrium for self steering to windward which is always a bit
elusive in fin keel boats.


I'm not sure what you mean here.

As for getting a fin keel boat... or a centerboard dinghy,
for that matter.... to steer itself while close-hauled or
close reaching, that's easy. I've never sailed a boat that I
couldn't get to do that, either, including a Laser. In fact,
it should be easier under main alone since a stronger
weather helm will give more feedback for the boat to correct
itself.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King