Colvic Watson Sailing Ability?

[CaptainBob]

How well does a colvic watson sail? Are you pretty much forced to motor sail for all but downwinders?

 

[webcraft]

How well does a colvic watson sail? Are you pretty much forced to motor sail for all but downwinders?

Only sailed a 23 - it needed a F5 to get it going. You will save fuel however by motor-sailing in lighter winds.

Downwind performance - where the apparent wind is lightest - will be worst, so not sure exactly what you mean by 'except for downwinders'. Of course the Colvic won't point as high as a 'proper' sailing boat and you will often use engine assistance to make upwind progress, but it should still be happy on a reasonably close reach.

- W

 

[sarabande]

some detailed discussion in this thread:-



http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=280933&highlight=watson

 

[Rivers & creeks]

The figures from the Sailing Today second hand review of the Colvic Watson 34

F4 (45 degrees closest worthwhile pointing) 5.5 knots
F5 goose winged 6 knots
F6 reaching 7.5 knots "without spilling the tea"

If you join the yahoo groups CW owners group you can access the 7 page review.

They are superb boats, I'm biased of course. They will be rubbish above 40 degrees and challenging to motor astern, slowish to tack and slow to accelerate, though less affected by a short chop.

The accommodation is extraordinary, we have two twin bunk cabins forward, midship heads, a large saloon, large wheelhouse, double aft cabin with en suite. The length is 35 feet and the beam is 13 feet with the beam carried a long way fore and aft.

 

[Seajet]

Colvic Watson 35', 5.5 knots to windward ?

Don't know about anyone else, but this is not the boat I was thinking of !

 

[sarabande]

yes, they can, and I did. They can, with good sails, carry their way to windward quite well, especially in flat seas.

Come rough weather, you can look at struggling soggy yotties from the comfort of the wheelhouse, in shirtsleeeves.

 

[Caer Urfa]

Only sailed a 23 - it needed a F5 to get it going.

Sorry guess you only sailed it once! Try 30 degrees off the wind nose!

I have sailed all the size range of the Colvic Watsons and almost all sail best close hauled or close reach, the smaller ones will sail happily in the lightest of winds if you play with the boom settings and let the genoa out, but if you want speed get another boat, but most will clog along happily for hours in most weather conditions at 5/8 knots in 10/20 mph winds in complete safety.

Colvic watsons do not tack easily and all need at least a few knots headway to bring them round, very rarely do I need to switch to engine power when under sail, it is usually poor weather that dictates this, with engine running and under full sail they surprisingly can shift even faster remembering most carry are fair amount of sail area and boy with engine and full sails you sure better stay alert as they can be VERY helm sensitive!

I personally have found only a little differance between the sloop and the ketch rigged in sailing knots, however I did find the ketch rig is a very good steading tool in heavy weather with just the mizzen up.

Hope this helps

Mike

 

[DanTribe]

Only sailed a 23 - it needed a F5 to get it going.

Sorry guess you only sailed it once! Try 30 degrees off the wind nose!

I have sailed all the size range of the Colvic Watsons and almost all sail best close hauled or close reach, the smaller ones will sail happily in the lightest of winds if you play with the boom settings and let the genoa out, but if you want speed get another boat, but most will clog along happily for hours in most weather conditions at 5/8 knots in 10/20 mpg winds in complete safety.

Colvic watsons do not tack easily and all need at least a few knots headway to bring them round, very rarely do I need to switch to engine power when under sail, it is usually poor weather that dictates this, with engine running and under full sail they surprisingly can shift even faster remembering most carry are fair amount of sail area and boy with engine and full sails you sure better stay alert as they can be VERY helm sensitive!

I personally have found only a little differance between the sloop and the ketch rigged in sailing knots, however I did find the ketch rig is a very good steading tool in heavy weather with just the mizzen up.

Hope this helps

Mike

5/8ths of a knot seems a bit on the slow side, even for a Watson.

 

[Csail]

How well does a colvic watson sail? Are you pretty much forced to motor sail for all but downwinders?

Not sure about the Watson but our atlanta only sails well in f6-7 + but we are safe and toasty warm in the wheel house often still wearing the sort of clothes you would wear for a night out!! Very strong boat, i love it. In big seas we beat all the jen,ben,bav boats.

 

[Caer Urfa]

Only sailed a 23 - it needed a F5 to get it going.

Just of interest I was out sailing for three days last week in accompany with 'Jodie Girl' a sloop rigged CW 23'-6", this is her in 8 mph Northerly wind in a heavy swell in the North sea doing 4.5 knots.

The bottom picture is my own boat the week before in a 6 mph SW wind doing 4.0 knots, so as you can see you do not need a F5 to sail a Colvic Watson.

Mike

 

[DanTribe]

Only sailed a 23 - it needed a F5 to get it going.

Just of interest I was out sailing for three days last week in accompany with 'Jodie Girl' a sloop rigged CW 23'-6", this is her in 8 mph Northerly wind in a heavy swell in the North sea doing 4.5 knots.

The bottom picture is my own boat the week before in a 6 mph SW wind doing 4.0 knots, so as you can see you do not need a F5 to sail a Colvic Watson.

Mike

Great picture of your boat Mike, I can see why you are fond of her.

 

[alahol2]

They're both going downhill, no wonder they're sailing so fast.