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Posted

Some sailing days are more lively than others.

The CS20 "Imagination" was out in 25 mph winds with gusts to 35 mph today. In this photo the boat is running a deep reach on plane heading down the back side of a tall bearded white cap wave and about to climb the roller in front of the boat. There is a bit of spray.

[attachment over 4 years old deleted by admin]


  • 1 year later...
Posted

Spray from the windward bow is driven completely across the boat by the roaring winds. The bow is hammering through waves that the wind has blown the tops off of. Water is running across the deck, across the seats, across my slicker, and into the bottom of the boat, where it is returned to the waves with a continual slurp from the bailers.

The sail are fully reefed, and with the sails set low just sweeping the decks. The boat is well balanced, pounding a bit when close hauled, but it takes no time at all to climb up and around the bend. Cracking off a bit to reach the boat takes off at screaming speed. Snow sputters occasionally as low clouds blow by. Up through the channel out into the sound, around the island and past the shallow reef. Then the sleigh ride home, a long deep reach to a dead run, jibing to make the turn and off again in a deep reach. The board is fully retracted, the bow is up and the spray falls mostly behind the boat as she planes away downwind.

The day comes to an end by the boat sliding up onto the sand finally coming to a halt just in time to find its berth on the trailer and head home as the sun goes down.

.

Posted

Wonderful, Brent! I keep wondering what I could handle myself--so far, only been out in 15kt without reefing, but with crew. Were you alone? What is your sail area reefed? What body of water is that?

Posted

Jeff,

The situation described was sailing solo. The boat when reefed handles very well, and sits on her lines even in stiff conditions. I went with sail tracks for several reasons, one of which was to get good sail shape when reefed. Tracks do several things for reefing, but perhaps unique to sprit rigs lowering the sail on the track puts more downward pressure on the clew thereby flattening out the leech!

When driving the boat hard in cold conditions I take carefull precautions knowing that going over could be a very challenging situation. But the boat has very good secondary stability, and while I have asked her to put her gunwales in the water many times, she still wants to get back on her feet.

Explore your personal limits knowing you have a capable craft.

Posted

Jonathan,

Welcome to the forum.

A growing number of forum members have completed our boats and are now out sailing, and from time time we put up pictures of various outings. Rob Blackburn has a number of really nice pictures up on his web site, which you can find by searching the forum by his name.

Tell us about where you are in your CS17 adventure. Please put up a few of YOUR pictures.

---Brent

Posted

Brent,

I have yet to find out where the limit of heel is. Its probably going to be next summer at this point...water is getting pretty cold for that kind of activity now. When I've had the wind, I have had too many land lubbers with me, or too much gear. I suppose that I need to just plan on a day with the boat stripped of gear and electronics, batten down the hatches and just go for it.

We are still enjoying some leisurly sailing. Going to be 60 tomorrow and a moderate breeze. Its too soon to call it a year!

Posted

Thanks for the info, Brent. I hoped to get one last day on the water this weekend. Looked like a good windy day. But it's going to pour with rain tomorrow. Of course, the gale warning gave me pause, also!

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