[C38] Spinnakers

Tue May 25 13:48:04 EDT 2010

Hi Steve,

Your apparent wind speed was 25 knots apparent, i.e. you were in 30 plus
true?  What weight chute were you using?  And when you say that it's a
bit larger than stock is that extra sail area up high in the shoulders?
If so I would say that is the cause of the rolling.  I've regularly
raced on a Serendipity 43 from the same era as our C-38's and we have
one oversize chute that we really like in mid strength wind but it gets
overpowered and the boat gets hard to handle in anything over apx. 20
knots true.  Especially in any kind of decent swell.  All the extra sail
area is high in the shoulders, where there should be more wind above the
water right?, but it's a delicate balancing act!

We also have a dazy but have never tried it as a stabilizer.  Maybe
we'll try it this weekend in the Oceanside to Mission Bay race.

Our tactic is always to sail as deep as possible, cutting the corner
whenever possible to gain an advantage.  We just can't match the A-sail
boats or more modern boats for speed but we sail a shorter distance.
When there is a swell we'll pump the main and when it's flat we'll rig
the preventer.  Anything to gain a little speed.  Cunningham, main
halyard, outhaul, and backstay eased as well for main shape.  

I think we all should take some solace in knowing that these boats were
specifically designed to a rating rule that favored pointing and
reaching over downwind speed.  It's hard watching lighter boats with
more waterline length (in the same LOA) roll by downwind though!!!!
Our waterline length fully stretches out when we are on our ear!  The
Serendipity always does very well upwind and then passed downwind,
repeat as necessary. 

I'd also like to know what others think of weight distribution going
downwind on a C-38.  On the Serendipity its weight between the spreaders
and the cockpit.  And keep the boat healed a bit to expose the spinnaker
a bit more.  What do you all do?  Weight in the front to help catch
swells, weight in the back for stability?  Keep the boat flat or healed?

This board is great!

Jay Sorensen

#311 Broad Reach

San Diego, CA

________________________________

From: listserve-bounces at catalina38.org
[mailto:listserve-bounces at catalina38.org] On Behalf Of Steve Smolinske
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 9:41 PM
To: Catalina 38 Listserve
Subject: [C38] Spinnakers

With the OOR behind us Swiftsure is coming up this weekend and it is
time to tap the salty and seasoned experience of the list's skippers.
During the Oregon Offshore the boats upwind perfromance left very little
to be desired...we footed faster and pointed higher than just about
everyone.  Once we got the right sail plan up we had more than enough
power to plow through the waves with very little detriment to boat
speed.  

On the downwind leg we have room for improvement.   Reaching and running
the shape looked good so I feel okay about our block and pole locations.
We were running with about 25 knots of apparent and the boat was quite
rolly, that was no surprise and to be expected in the conditions, ( we
are thinking that the dazy stay sail will help stabilize the boat anyone
with experience with a dazy?) but prior to that the best I can describe
is sluggish, I wasnt to impressed with our performance.  I dont recall
the angles we were sailing but im quessing on the run about 150-160.  Is
that to deep?  Its a brand new chute and cut for all purpose and about
100+ square feet larger than the size listed on the site so I would have
expected better speed in the lighter winds.  What angles have others
found to be the best?  Thanks. 

Steve

#312 Peregrine 

Seattle

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