All the above is true. There are certainly many variables which you
have to sort out.

But.... Yes, bigger boats do point better, all things being
proportional. Bigger boats are more efficent -- they have less
windage per sail area, from relatively lower topsides, smaller
shrouds, and smaller masts. They get the sail up higher where there
is more wind. They have relatively less wetted surface.

Bigger boats are also more stable and have more sail carrying ability.
Therefore, in given conditions they will have more power and can trade
off speed for better pointing.

Note, by the way, that I have said "bigger" and "all things being
proportional", while you asked "longer". If you take two boats of the
same displacement, one longer than the other, all bets are off.

Jim Woodward
www.mvFintry.com

Rodney Myrvaagnes wrote in message . ..
On Wed, 8 Oct 2003 06:42:46 -0400, "Jack"
wrote:

I have a friend who insists that longer boats characteristically point
higher than shorter ones. He doesn't have an explanation except that his
observations over the years. I wonder if this is true or if there is some
other variable (longer boats have room to sheet their headsails more
inboard, etc)


You certainly have to separate variables a lot more than that simple
statement does.

Boats that are designed with pointing in mind differ quite a lot from
those designed for gentlemen. If a cruising boat uses overlapping
genoas and the shrouds prevent sheeting them at the optimum angle,
then a longer example, with proportionately less beam, would likely
point higher.


Rodney Myrvaagnes Opionated old geezer

Faith-based economics: It's deja voodoo all over again