Sailboat sinks in San Diego Bay

[Neil Gordon]

Not to worry. Check out the videos on the MacGregor site - http://www.macgregor26.com/ - to see a 26 footer that frolics in 50 kts and beam seas (with the companionway wide open) when those silly Cape Dorys head for a b&b. And it sleeps six and goes 25 mph with the outboard. Eat your heart out, Cap'n Alberg.

They leave the companionway open so they can take on extra water ballast.

[Kilgore]

Are there baffles in that tank? One would think rapidly sloshing water in a partially filled tank would be worse than an empty tank.

[Duncan]

I've watched the video 3X, but I'm still puzzled. The boat just doesn't look like it's driving hard, the way I'd expect in the Force 7-8 that they claim. In particular, the angle of heel doesn't look right.

I wonder if they had the board up and they were skidding sideways?
But it doesn't look too much like that either.

Ya reckon they were motorsailing?

[Russell]

That video is absolutely not gale force winds. Look how much sail they have up. I would guess 20 knots of wind and 6 foot seas, a brisk day but by no means bad weather.

As for Macgregors, they have their place in the world and I have met many who own them and love them. Not my cup of tea, but you wont find me bashing them either.

Sticking 10 people on one of the smaller cape dorys would be very dangerous as well. The design and the boat itsself was in no way at fault in this accident.

[billc]

their info says the water tanks must be completely full or the boat is not self righting. i would assume most cd's are self righting?, assuming you don't fill the cabin with water. the info also says that boat uses a dagger board. this is what you have on a sunfish or lazer. its mainly for going upwind not righting moment. the pics in the 50? knot film they are mainly reaching and they probably have the board up to minimize heeling. probably 1/2 way otherwise they are sliding sideways. in high wind going downwind dagger boards and centerboards are frequently pulled up to reduce drag and reduce heeling .how much depends on course. i'm talking about planing hulls...

[darmoose]

in high wind going downwind dagger boards and centerboards are frequently pulled up to reduce drag and reduce heeling...

Surely this is in error. Wouldn't one want their board locked down (and perhaps even bigger) to reduce drag, much like a "locked prop"??

Darrell

[billc]

sorry i digressed. i intended to point out the mac has a daggerboard and lost control of keyboard

[Neil Gordon]

Wouldn't one want their board locked down (and perhaps even bigger) to reduce drag, much like a "locked prop"??

Darrell

Board up is the equivalent of no prop at all. There was never a claim that a locked prop offered less drag than no (or a folding) prop.

[Maine_Buzzard]

Surprising that the water in the video just splashes back down, instead of turning into spindrift.

If old man MacGregor tells you that he caught a fish THIS big, smile, nod, and back away. No fast movements, don't break eye contact until you can outrun him...