Boomless!

[Michel]

Another boomless European boat.
http://youtu.be/yU2Y1KUhBas

[Michel]

For those who could be interested; I went out in various wind conditions, first with a reef on that I soon took off as the wind died out a little. I had to heave to and put it back on after a little while as the wind got stronger and gusty for good. Good practice and good results (IMHO)
I like it!
http://youtu.be/TsgrGIAM2yY

[wdscobie]

been reading this topic, and watching the video, with interest.

if you feel the boat has been 'power' and 'drives' more efficiently this is great.

yes, you have lost many of the sail shaping controls that come with with a 'conventional' boom arrangement. sail condition is also a factor. what share are your sails in?

i have sailed around a few Nonsuch boats ... that are 'kinda' boomless with their wishbone arrangement. the boats seem to do well for catboats.

the 'real' test ... if there is such a thing ... will be to put your Sandpiper 'against' another 565 and see who is doing 'better'.

[Michel]

Hi Dave,
I know how subjective sailing can be. Some like to heal the boat a lot, You get a feeling of speed from this but most of the time it is slower!...

My own feelings about this are based on an intimate knowledge of my boat and the place I sail most of the time. I have to fight a steady current that can near the two knots when the wind is blowing roughly in the same direction. I mostly have to tack against it and I found out that there is a small gain in speed when going close hauled. It might be that the boat is loosing speed a little slower?
I go by instinct a lot and I can recognize similar wind conditions and the kind of sailing that always went with them. There is a difference.

My main sail is now new but it is in a fairly good condition. There is no bag in it at all and I can tune it pretty well with the boom on. I can trim the shape perfectly in accord with the rules if I want.
Now, the controls are very few. I use the halyard combined with my vang who is now used as a cunningham and tack point to keep the draft in the first third of the sail. I also use the traveller by letting it go to leeward when in a broad reach and the sheet. That's it!...
So this is some kind of mystery and your idea about a contest with another Sandpiper is good. I have a good buddy who has one and it could be arranged.
Thanks for your comment!

[wdscobie]

i don't know the Sandpipers well so i can't comment on how they perform.

who knows ... maybe you are on to something and with the cut of the main and the geometry of the sheet you are actually creating a better sail shape than can be made with the stock boom installed.

maybe slight changes in the sail's center of effort are better for the hull's center of effort and your are getting a more efficient combination?

my old M15 had such a blown out main the boat sailed much better when reefed ... the reef took out the 'bagging' and generally improving the sail shape.

remember, for true science work you must go sailing many times ... requiring you to take many days off work to collect data for the SCA community

[Michel]

Hi Dave,
I really don't know but your idea about the center of effort could make sense a lot. The most notable difference is in the way she keeps her speed better when close hauled. It is a real improvement when tacking against the current I always have to face.

remember, for true science work you must go sailing many times ... requiring you to take many days off work to collect data for the SCA community

Don't worry about that! I am retired and I go sailing almost everyday! This is my Karma I think!

Have a nice day and go sailing!

[TitusTiger]

this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzPdiadh ... o7dLhRx8FQ

Answered a question I had. My sailboat doesn't have the ability to reef and I wondered if you gave up that option... but I see you can still reef.

Off topic question: What is your video technique. You don't have much jittering even on a windy day... I assume your camera is hand held...?

TT

[Michel]

Hi!
Glad that my clip answered your question!
My camera is always in my hand. My hand have become very stable with practice. The most difficult is to tack while filming and I can manage it only when the conditions are calm enough. I have to take care of the jib sheet and tiller with only one hand while trying to be still with the camera hand!
You can see a one hand tack at about 2:12 in this video.
http://youtu.be/VnpYnx0ed4I

I was still sailing with a boom then!

Happy new year!

[TitusTiger]

smooth, though it looks lke a gentle day -- Like your boat... do you ever sleep on it?

I think I have a goal to sail my recently purchased) Paceship p-12 for a couple years then move up to a small boat that I could cruise the Great Lakes in

[Michel]

Yes, I sleep on her on occasions. There are some nice places to lower the anchor in my region and I sometimes cruise for some days, going toward Quebec city. Lots of nice places going down the Saint-Lawrence.

This clip is about a Montreal / Quebec city trip that I made solo a few years ago. About 180 nm.
http://youtu.be/UmH13085mvQ

You can go anywhere on a good small boat.