This bulletin board, hosted by the CDSOA, Inc., is the on-line meeting place for all Cape Dory owners and groups. We welcome everyone's questions, answers and comments about Cape Dory sailboat
The CD31 carries about 15% more sail (504 vs 437 sq ft) and has a considerably taller mast than the CD30. It is not surprising that the CD31 requires beefier standing rigging. More comments on the comparison between CD30's and CD31's can be found in a <a href=http://www.toolworks.com/cgi-bin/tw/wwb ... 15881>post from earlier last year regarding the design characteristics of the CD31</a> but perhaps more striking are some pictures from the 2001 CDSOA NE Fleet Maine Cruise raft-up at Long Cove, where my CD30C <em>Andronikos</em> was rafted up with the CD31 <em>Iolanthe</em>:
it is also interesting to note that the CD31 has shrouds running from each side up to the mast where the inner stay attaches, a total of 4 shrouds on each side but the CD30, i believe, only has 3 shrounds on each side - under extreme conditions, e.g. with a storm sail on the inner stay, the CD31 rig is stronger
I believe I read in a Ted Brewer article somewhere that alot of boats out there that call themselves cutters are in fact double headsail sloops. That a cutter has to have it's mast aft of 40% of that headstay distance. I don't know what the specs are on the Cape Dory boats, but it's probably pretty close. The best arrangment I believe is to keep the innerstay, but make it removeable. When winds are light, put it away and break out the larger genoa...when winds are heavy, put it back on. I sail in the San Francisco Bay and we have 25knts of wind daily during the late spring through early fall. Flying that stays'l with a double reefed main is the way to go. The reason the cutter is the rig of choice for cruisers is cuz it just gives you more options.
Wouldn't a sail in front redirect the wind so that it becomes more of a header for the sail behind? Wouldn't that mean you either have to bear off or tolerate some luffing in the rear sail? Wouldn't this effect be multiplied the more sails you have? I expect that the Nelson/Marek can point like the dickens no matter how many head sails she carries, but wouldn't she point even higher with just a big genny?
Not really, once trimed a 'slot' exists. Don't forget the yankee isn't
a big overlapper. Take a look at some of the clasic racers they are running 3 headsails. It's all in the synchronization of trim.
Cape Dorys, at least from the CD25 to the CD40, have their mast about 41% aft of the mast whether it's called a sloop or cutter. They're all double-headed sloops, since a cutter has its mast 50% aft. You're right about the versatility of the cutter rig in heavy seas.
In effect, you have the best of both worlds provided you're willing to change setups with the changing conditions.
Skip Miller wrote: I have read of converting the CD30 cutter to a sloop rig. How is this done and what are the advantages?
I did the conversion last year, and this year added a 140 genoa from North Sails. My wife and I prefer the lack of clutter on the bow and the ease of tacking. The North Sail has a foam luff so it can be furled. (I also have in-mast furling.) While I do have problems with weather helm when I also use the main, she sails beautifully with genoa alone. I hope to work out the balancing next year. As someone who wants to make cruising as simple as possible, the sloop rig is right for me.
