Elan 333 pointing within 18 degrees of true wind ... ?

[daverebbettes]

I have owned a 333 for 12 years. She points extremely high, but I doubt 18 true is possible. 25 Apparent is no problem and my sails are getting old. With newer more efficient sails I guess you could do a little better.

 

[jac]

I have owned a 333 for 12 years. She points extremely high, but I doubt 18 true is possible. 25 Apparent is no problem and my sails are getting old. With newer more efficient sails I guess you could do a little better.

25 Apparent could be 35-40 True ( depends on relative speeds) I could believe that and even a couple of degrees closer, especially if you were pinching and accepting a lower VMG but SAILING at 18 degrees even apparent seems unlikely

 

[ELAiNe333]

We have sailed our 333 in club racing with a small fleet for quite a long time. One of our rivals sails a First 31.7 and he always seems to point rather higher than us. If I try to match him we lose too much boat speed. The point is that although the 333 is very quick to windward compared to many she is not exceptional at pointing close to the wind. Our sails are fairly recent Vectran rather than a laminate and are quite full cut but still I think boat speed and a deep lead keel are her strengths rather than being able to point very high.

 

[davidej]

I have owned a 333 for 12 years. She points extremely high, but I doubt 18 true is possible. 25 Apparent is no problem and my sails are getting old. With newer more efficient sails I guess you could do a little better.

So what was true? I'd guess nearer 35 than 30

 

[snooks]

Not. A. Chance.

To do true/apparent conversions have a looksee here:

http://www.hydesailsdirect.com/Articles.asp?ID=278

 

[ELAiNe333]

Not. A. Chance.

To do true/apparent conversions have a looksee here:

http://www.hydesailsdirect.com/Articles.asp?ID=278

Rather wishing I had not tried that site's computation, rather depressing. 28 degrees apparent (typical from our windmeter), 5.4 knots, 12 knots apparent wind speed and we are actually 47.3 degrees off the true wind.

 

[dom]

Not. A. Chance.

To do true/apparent conversions

Yes, yes, 1 a.m. on Sunday morning and nobody believes this.

But 1 a.m. the night before would be a different matter!

 

[doug748]

Rather wishing I had not tried that site's computation, rather depressing. 28 degrees apparent (typical from our windmeter), 5.4 knots, 12 knots apparent wind speed and we are actually 47.3 degrees off the true wind.

That simulation is great to play with.

I always think that if it looks something like 90deg on the plotter, then you are sailing really well.
Tho I suspect what it really means is that you have some tide under you :-(

 

[DJE]

Rather wishing I had not tried that site's computation, rather depressing. 28 degrees apparent (typical from our windmeter), 5.4 knots, 12 knots apparent wind speed and we are actually 47.3 degrees off the true wind.

Yes but that is only 7.7 knots of true wind. True wind angle improves as the wind speed increases. (See the polars for the Elan in post #2 of this thread) Try the same thing with 18 knots apparent and suddenly your true wind angle is 38.8 degrees.