I am having poor sailing when I put up the main sail. Could this be because of old sails, dirty bottom, or does the CD 25 sail poorly under main only. I have own it for five years and have sailed it as far north as Alaska, and I Sailed it to San Diego from Seattle. (Single-Handed)
I have never been real impressed with the performance of sailing it with the main only. Does any one have any advise. I would like to move up to a bigger Cape Dory, in 2 years. Do the CD30, CD33, or CD36 have the same trouble?
Thanks for your time.
Mike.Bellgardt@supernews.com
Poor Sailing with only the Main Sail up. CD25
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Jerry Hammernik
Re: Poor Sailing with only the Main Sail up. CD25
Mike,
I've always found my 25 to be sluggish with only the main up. She does just fine with two sails. It may be a 150 and the full main or 2 reefs in the main and a working jib but it almost always needs two sails. The only time I've had good luck with just the main up is running downwind in strong air. I've tried just the 150 jenny at times, but I find I just don't like the way it feels. I'm much happier with a 2 sail set up. I have a cruising spinnaker and that will fly great on its own. Many times when running I find the main just blocks the air to the chute and that speed and control improve when I drop the main. I've noticed that friends (with bigger CD's) that I sail with seem to almost always use two sails as well. Hope this is of some help.
Jerry
dauntles@execpc.com
I've always found my 25 to be sluggish with only the main up. She does just fine with two sails. It may be a 150 and the full main or 2 reefs in the main and a working jib but it almost always needs two sails. The only time I've had good luck with just the main up is running downwind in strong air. I've tried just the 150 jenny at times, but I find I just don't like the way it feels. I'm much happier with a 2 sail set up. I have a cruising spinnaker and that will fly great on its own. Many times when running I find the main just blocks the air to the chute and that speed and control improve when I drop the main. I've noticed that friends (with bigger CD's) that I sail with seem to almost always use two sails as well. Hope this is of some help.
Jerry
dauntles@execpc.com
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Catherine Monaghan
Re: Poor Sailing with only the Main Sail up. CD25
Mike,
Unless you're sailing a catboat like a Nonsuch, Menger, Marshall and the like, your boat was meant to be sailed with more than one sail. For pointing ability, balance and speed, you need to fly at least the main and one headsail. If it blowing hard, reef both sails to maintain balance, otherwise it can become very difficult to steer. Make sure the sails are trimmed properly -- use your traveller. And don't be afraid to put the rail in the water. Your Cape Dory can take it.
Cathy M.
CD32 Realization
Raritan Bay
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
Unless you're sailing a catboat like a Nonsuch, Menger, Marshall and the like, your boat was meant to be sailed with more than one sail. For pointing ability, balance and speed, you need to fly at least the main and one headsail. If it blowing hard, reef both sails to maintain balance, otherwise it can become very difficult to steer. Make sure the sails are trimmed properly -- use your traveller. And don't be afraid to put the rail in the water. Your Cape Dory can take it.
Cathy M.
CD32 Realization
Raritan Bay
Mike Bellgardt wrote: I am having poor sailing when I put up the main sail. Could this be because of old sails, dirty bottom, or does the CD 25 sail poorly under main only. I have own it for five years and have sailed it as far north as Alaska, and I Sailed it to San Diego from Seattle. (Single-Handed)
I have never been real impressed with the performance of sailing it with the main only. Does any one have any advise. I would like to move up to a bigger Cape Dory, in 2 years. Do the CD30, CD33, or CD36 have the same trouble?
Thanks for your time.
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
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Jon Larson
Re: Poor Sailing with only the Main Sail up. CD25
Mike, your CD25 is a bit of a different beast than my CD30, but on my CD30 when things get to the point where I wish to sail with a single sail, it's one of the jibs that I chose and the boat sails well, moves pretty nicely and will even tack with just the yankee. It's also a major comfort in those times that my yankee is roller furling and I don't have to leave the cockpit to do anything.
I also had my main recut this year, it had gotten rather baggy over the years and was not sun damaged, so the $150 I spent on the recut was money well spent, and it did make quite a difference certainly in PERI's ability to point...I recommend you have a consultation with a good sailmaker.
Wow, you have my respect, taking your CD25 on a voyage down the west coast, that's a major trip. I'd really be interested to know if you intend to make the reverse trip...that certainly appears to be the "uphill" part of the trip.
Jon F. Larson
Cape Dory 30 PERI
San Francisco Bay
jon9@ix.netcom.com
I also had my main recut this year, it had gotten rather baggy over the years and was not sun damaged, so the $150 I spent on the recut was money well spent, and it did make quite a difference certainly in PERI's ability to point...I recommend you have a consultation with a good sailmaker.
Wow, you have my respect, taking your CD25 on a voyage down the west coast, that's a major trip. I'd really be interested to know if you intend to make the reverse trip...that certainly appears to be the "uphill" part of the trip.
Jon F. Larson
Cape Dory 30 PERI
San Francisco Bay
Mike Bellgardt wrote: I am having poor sailing when I put up the main sail. Could this be because of old sails, dirty bottom, or does the CD 25 sail poorly under main only. I have own it for five years and have sailed it as far north as Alaska, and I Sailed it to San Diego from Seattle. (Single-Handed)
I have never been real impressed with the performance of sailing it with the main only. Does any one have any advise. I would like to move up to a bigger Cape Dory, in 2 years. Do the CD30, CD33, or CD36 have the same trouble?
Thanks for your time.
jon9@ix.netcom.com
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Catherine Monaghan
Re: Poor Sailing with only the Main Sail up. CD25
Mike,
When are you sailing with just the main -- when it's blowing really hard or when you're feeling lazy? Wind and sea conditions do make a difference in how well the boat will sail with different sail combinations. If it's not blowing hard, treat your sloop as a sloop and fly both sails. If the boat's overpowered then you need to reduce sail. There are different combinations to reduce sail, experiment and see what works best on your boat.
If she sails poorly with just the main, try flying just the jib instead. If the boat's overpowered by a large jenny, try reefing it. If that too is unsuitable, deeply reef both sails.
Cathy M.
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
When are you sailing with just the main -- when it's blowing really hard or when you're feeling lazy? Wind and sea conditions do make a difference in how well the boat will sail with different sail combinations. If it's not blowing hard, treat your sloop as a sloop and fly both sails. If the boat's overpowered then you need to reduce sail. There are different combinations to reduce sail, experiment and see what works best on your boat.
If she sails poorly with just the main, try flying just the jib instead. If the boat's overpowered by a large jenny, try reefing it. If that too is unsuitable, deeply reef both sails.
Cathy M.
Catherine Monaghan wrote: Mike,
Unless you're sailing a catboat like a Nonsuch, Menger, Marshall and the like, your boat was meant to be sailed with more than one sail. For pointing ability, balance and speed, you need to fly at least the main and one headsail. If it blowing hard, reef both sails to maintain balance, otherwise it can become very difficult to steer. Make sure the sails are trimmed properly -- use your traveller. And don't be afraid to put the rail in the water. Your Cape Dory can take it.
Cathy M.
CD32 Realization
Raritan Bay
Mike Bellgardt wrote: I am having poor sailing when I put up the main sail. Could this be because of old sails, dirty bottom, or does the CD 25 sail poorly under main only. I have own it for five years and have sailed it as far north as Alaska, and I Sailed it to San Diego from Seattle. (Single-Handed)
I have never been real impressed with the performance of sailing it with the main only. Does any one have any advise. I would like to move up to a bigger Cape Dory, in 2 years. Do the CD30, CD33, or CD36 have the same trouble?
Thanks for your time.
catherine_monaghan@merck.com