Core Sound 15 launched

[Designer]

We have sailed her twice now and had to hand her over to her owner today. Here are a couple of pics of her under sail.

[attachment over 4 years old deleted by admin]

[edt]

Graham,

How heavy did she turn out to be?

TIA

Ed

[Designer]

320#

[Charlie Jones]

And on the phone today you told me you had been working SOOOOO hard- I see- working hard sailing

Boat looks really nice Graham. Laving a pretty fair wake too.

[capt jake]

Laving a pretty fair wake too.

Yup, looks like a wee bit of spray up front as well!

I love it Graham!!! Keep the good work! Or sailing as the case may be.

[Designer]

Charlie, the fact that I only sailed her twice while she was in my possesion for three weeks will tell you how busy I am.

[Guest]

I think I saw it pass my way, today, early Graham going east ?

[Designer]

You probably did see her. The owner lives down east.

[Designer]

No, we are talking way down east. Harkers Is., Glouster, Straits, Sea level, Marshallberg, etc.

[Scott Dufour]

When go I from Connecticut to Portsmouth, ME, I definitely set my heading for Down East. I did't know they used the same expression around the Chesapeak. Is Down East a place down south or is it really just a kind of direction?

[Charlie Jones]

LOL- I know Graham- I saw the pictures But I just HAD to rib ya just a bit !!

I still haven't sailed the Sharpie since I installed the floatation box in the bow.

Maybe this afternoon?

At least it hasn't rained in *2* days now, but the highway I drive getting to work is still closed due to high water.

[Guest]

This is the area known as "Downeast" as Graham eludes to. Funny thing is when the shrimpers goes to the sound fishing in the area of Pamlico Sound and east of Cedar Island, from Harkers Island, they will call it "Down to the Nawthered". strange as it seems.

This is an overview of the area. It has around eight small communities in it.

[Gordy Hill]

I notice in the first picture you're reefed. How much trouble was it?

Gordy

[Designer]

Hi Gordy,

The reefing is really nice. The owner of the CS15 is also the owner of CS20 #1 and I used the same system as on the 20. Reefing was important as he asked for a large rig for good light air performance.

It is very easy to use, I start by easing both sheets and then I reef the mizzen first. First the halyard is eased, then the snotter. I pull the sprit out of the clew and poke it into the reefing clew (the sheet is attached to the sprit). Ease the downhaul and move the S-hook to the reefing tack and re-tension the down haul. I pull on the mizzen sheet which brings the boat to a hove-to position makeing it easy to finish reefing, rolling up the foot of the sail and tying off the reef points. I then repeat the procedure for the mainsail.

I always rig the mainsail sprit and hardware on the starboard side and the mizzen to port, this makes it easier to reef on a starboard tack which gives you right of way over vessels while you are not properly underway.

It is important to have a good reefing system as wind pressure increases by the square of the speed (in other words, doubling wind speed increases the pressure 4 times).

In the foto below it can be seen how steadily she lies hove-to while I finish reefing the mainsail.

[attachment over 4 years old deleted by admin]

[Travis Votaw]

Graham, is this about the same procedure that I should use to reef the Princess? I've never sailed a sprit boom rig before so I'll be plowing some new ground.

Thanks,

Travis

[Designer]

Travis, Yes your rig is essentially the same.

[Ed Hawkins]

Graham,

Are the sails laced to the mast or on a track? does the snotter remain in the same position on the mast or is it on some kind of sliding hitch on the mast?

[Designer]

The snotter position is fixed on the forward side of the mast with an eye strap so that it does not interfere with the sail track. There is some adjustment by raising or lowering the sail with the halyard and using the downhaul for luff tension, which has the same effect on the leech as raising or lowering the snotter.

[Brent]

Reading between the lines that Graham writes describes one of the subtle tweaks that can be done with a sprit rig. By lowering the sail, even a couple inches, the angle of the sprit changes causing increased downward pressure on the aft end of the sail. This delivers greater pressure to flatten the leach, just like cranking down on the vang on a conventional marconi (sloop rig). This flatening of the sail is exactly what you want to do as the wind cranks up!

Lowering the sail also lowers the center of effort of the sail, reducing heeling force.

So, lowering the sail is the thing I do first, before reefing. With the halyard, snotter, and downhaul led aft this is done without leaving the helm.

[Tom Lathrop]

I have always heard that Downeast in Maine referred to the northeasterly direction along the coast of Maine being downwind in the summer months.

The area shown on the map by Oyster certainly qualifies as downeast by that definition. The prevailing southwest winds of the area usually mean a run to the northeast and a beat back. All sailors in the "Great Race" can testify to the reality of beating their way to Beaufort through Core Sound and around Harker's Island. Usually, only the occasion of a northeaster will change this pattern.