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I have a MK IV, and I am interested in some of your opinions regarding the optimum angle of heel. I have had this less than a year (my first boat of this size)and now we are getting steadier winds more regularly here in FL. In moderate waves and wind (3-6ft, 15-20kts), on a close haul, and with the 165 genoa (cranked tight, to within 6 inches of spreaders), 25-30 degrees heel seems to present no problems: the boat seems in a groove, as it were, and minor adjustments to the traveler (or even pinching) work best during gusts. However, I am not sure I am getting a lot more speed at this angle. I am very interested to hear thoughts from those of you with more experience, as much of the literature I read conflicts (some say this much heeling is counterproductive, and others say the opposite). My current opinion is that the hull and foils react well to up to 30 degrees....
thanks,
Jim
"Over the Yardarm" Palm Harbor, FL
I find my Mark I to be rock solid between 15 and 20 degrees of heeling. She handles more heeling fine, however, in my mind, I know she is an old boat....a great boat, but an old boat nontheless. I feel that I am pushing her hard at 30 degrees and beyond to the point where the stanchions are in the water. Anything above 25, we typically work the mainsheet to prevent excessive heeling especially if it is gusty.
Greg Reese
Billerina
Mark I, Hull #33
My MKlll like to settle in at 20 degrees..... in 15- 20 knots of wind (usually sailing alone) I like my 110 jib. I let the jib do most of the work and play the traveller for both speed and control.... I have raced this combination unreefed to 35 knots with great success. Using a larger genoa i.e. 150% does not always get you more speed, especially in the 15- to 20 knot range, what it does is move the center of effort aft a bit and it does make the boat heel more.
I would suggest that you try several sail combinations in various wind strengths and reduce your heel angle to 20 degrees... check your performance with a gps unit and not your knot meter.... I think that you will find the boat easier to sail and your crew will be happier.
IRIS
1975 C&C 27 MKlll
Hull # 453
Kittery Point, Maine
That sounds better. I tend to leave the big genoa up down here because the wind can be variable, and the boat still performs well, especially on a reach, with it furled in a bit (but with the block switched out to the toerail). Hauling on the backstay, etc. also seems to help avoid a sail change (so I can still have the genoa for when the wind dies)...but your advice to get a better feel of various sail combos and their effect on speed and perfomance is quite logical. thanks.
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Hi Jim,
I echo what "IRIS" says. The Mk 111 that I have seems to do best to weather when the angle of heel is less than about 22-24 degrees (otherwise you start to make more leeway). Also, since these boats do not have a modern keel shape it doesn't pay to pinch them too much , or again, their VMG decreases.
Sailing with the rail in the water may feel fast but it's very interesting to use your GPS by plugging in a weighpoint to weather and watching your VMG (rather than your speed over the bottom). The VMG may actually increase after you've rolled in some Genoa, tucked a reef in the main or dropped that traveller down a bit to leeward.
If you don't have a GPS to find your VMG, the next best indication is the amount of helm you're carrying upwind. No boat is fast with the tiller in your lap. I think that these boats can be tuned and sailed best with about 3-5 degrees of rudder angle.
Good luck with your new boat.
Clare Jordan -- Aragorn
Thanks, "IRIS", that's what I was waiting for! A dozen or threads ago, I asked the question on the stability of the Mk III in Mod - Heavy air. Having just purchased a Mk III and not sailed her yet - I was curious as to how she would re-act to the +20kts we have here in the spring. A #3 and full main sounds perfect, thanks. Now I'll have to see what configuration Hyperion (my competition for 2006) <IMG src="http://www.cc27association.com/f3/toast/emoticons/icon_lol.gif" border=0> uses in the big stuff.
Dean M Baldwin
Morgan "D"
Mark III - Hull 516
Halifax, N.S.
Dean M Baldwin
Morgan "D"
Mark III - Hull 516
North Sydney, N.S.
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Just to add to the equation, having a good working traveller as depicted in the black arts section is really important when sailing these boats in heavy air..... you can easily dump the main in the puffs and power back up without having the boat go all over the place.
Boat speed is affected by how vertical the boat is, not how far over it is.... I have beaten much bigger boats that used larger head sails only because of their ego not letting them sail the boat efficently. Once you reach hull speed, that is it to windward.. now on a reach or down wind that is a different set of conditions. I have reached at 9 knots, that was fun!
"IRIS"
1975 C&C MKlll
Hull # 453
Kittery Point, Maine
Hello Jim;
Yes,lots of heal always feels great and fast as the water rushes over the rails and makes lots of noise and usually scares the hell out of the wife. However, as stated by a few others it is not necessarily so. The idea of trying different combinations while cross checking with a good GPS is the way to go. According to C&C years ago, I was told the optimin heal for the 27 was 12 degrees. This is where the hull form has the least amount of water surface and thus drag on it. Experiment with reefing and also moving the sheets outboard if still overhealing in bigger blows. We always depower from the back first. ie. first reef the main then go to smaller headsails.
Cheers-"Yogi Bear"
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