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Tue, December 24 2024, 07:27 [ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, [4], 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 ]

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Date Posted: - Monday - 04/12/10 - 9:27pm
Author: Randall
Subject: Lots of solutions
In reply to: Lyle Harris 's message, "Up wind, up mizzen; down wind, down mizzen" on - Sunday - 04/11/10 - 10:18pm

Lyle,

I find running the trickiest point of sail on my Mariner, especially a stiff breeze on the quarter, but I don't find that a function of the mizzen, particularly. In fact, I'm with Doug, and often sail with jib and mizzen only. On my boat, the genoa is the most powerful sail, and in a quartering wind the main can steal its thunder. I hazard a guess that you experienced more control on dropping the mizzen because 18 knots **apparent** can be a bit much for full sail on our boats. But you could have dropped or reefed the main with similar results.

As to tacking, our long keel does mean we're slow to come about, and without a full head of steam, Murre can get caught in stays if bucking a stiff chop on the tack. The mizzen can help push you bum around, as you saw. Another technique is to tack without releasing the jib sheet; let the sail fill and pull your head around before hauling it in on the leeward side.

When close hauled the mizzen can absolutely block the airflow from the main if the boom is hauled in too much. But we always sail slowly on a very tight, close hauled course no matter... One option is to fall off a bit and loosen things up. Every boat will beat you home, so relax and enjoy the sail. :)

I find this isn't much of a problem in very light air. In light air you need all the sail you can get. In a moderate breeze when I need the mizzen, but when it's starting to back noticeably, I reef it. This flattens it out tremendously and stops the breaking action. As wind pipes up, I'll reef the jib and then the main. Even in a stiff breeze, the boat balances really nicely on three reefed sails.

Having three sails opens all kinds of opportunities those poor buggers with just two can't imagine. Wait till you run wing and wing ... and wing past the yacht club. The commodore will drop his gin and tonic, I promise.

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Replies:

[> [> Mizzenthrop -- Lyle Harris, - Tuesday - 04/13/10 - 1:25pm

Hi Randall,
thanks for the additional discussion on sail options. I'm having a lot of fun getting to know the boat and how she sails.
That said, my sails are shot, and that is working against me. I have only a tiny hank-on jib, a taped up Main, and see-through Mizzen. I can't tighten the leach on the main, and watched in bewilderment as the sail shook out one of its battens.
I've purchased newer sails, made for a Cal 33, which I'm going to cut to size for the Mariner. That's taking some time.
A genoa; my kingdom for a genoa.
Lyle.


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[> [> [> Mizzenthrop. A genius word! May have to steal it. -- Randall, - Wednesday - 04/14/10 - 1:00am

I hear you re old sails. My main and mizzen are in fair shape, but the genoa is, well, flabby. Makes pointing a bitch. Have had to hand stich the leach twice now. Can't complain. I still go.


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