A question of seamanship - October YM

[blackbeard]

Just a niggle from a mathematical anorak.
"By altering course 30 degrees" from a direct course "this was adding 30% to the distance ...".
I make this more like 15%.
Niggly point, but it could affect the answer to the question posed in the article.
Would you agree that the quickest way downwind for a cruising yacht is not, in general, a dead run but a broad reach?
[/pedant]

 

[BrokerBen]

Just to be extra dull...

If cruising, your VMG is all that matters, so dead run or broard reach isn't relevant, you do whever takes you where you want to go, as heading up slightly away from your destination is not likely to be shorter....

Also, does this cruising boat have a 135% genoa polled out, and a roached main? I would say on a modern flat bottommed boat you would be crazy not to sieze the chance to do some proper downwind sailing, as that seems to be what they're all made for!

Ben (owner of 40 year old van de stadt, windward vessel!)

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

an interesting debate here.... as my immediate reaction was that regardless of the slighly longer distance, if I was single handed and pressed in a large and growing sea, i'd definitely have taken the option to avoid sailing dead downwind. I'd rather have 5 hours of reaching in a blow than 4 hours of dead downwind under those circumstances..... but I guess thats personal preference....

Although, i'd in reality have probably dropped the main like suggested and just sailed under genoa...... and that, as Ben suggest above, would have been great fun!

 

[graham]

A broad reach is more comfortable and easier to steer etc but if your near to hull speed running downwind in a displacement cruising yacht the straight line will be quicker.

Racing yachts that can semi plane up and beyond normal displacement speeds are a different thing alltogether.

 

[HoratioHB]

Me - I'd have hardened up a tad and headed stright to Alderney as Cherbourg is boring anyway

 

[Twister_Ken]

>Me - I'd have hardened up a tad and headed stright to Alderney as Cherbourg is boring anyway <

So your family would have arrived in Cherbourg and said "WTF's dad?" Meanwhile the Aldreney HM would be saying "Why did that daft eejit come here in a strong northerly?"

You must fill me in on the bright lights of Alderney some when. Is it really less boring than Cherbourg?

 

[flaming]

Haven't got this month's YM yet, is there a link to the question anywhere?

 

[HoratioHB]

Sorry Ken - can't remember the fine details as I am sat at the office desk but seemed to remember when I read it that Alderney was an option. Whatever - yes I prefer a beer in the Divers and the oldy worldy charm of Alderney to a rather souless French city any day.