Good Sailor or Boat That Sails Well?

[C08]

As the owner of an old fairly slow cat and with a wife who likes the boat to be sailed very gently I have become philosphical to being frequently passed by other boats. On arrival in port/marina in conversation with the skippers of some of these boats I sometimes get a distinct feeling that some sailors think they are a lot more skilled than they really are and that they just have a boat that sails well. Maybe they do not realise that?

 

[johnalison]

We all good sailors, just as we are all brilliant drivers. The only way to tell the truth is to observe them, preferably from on board, or sail against them in a comparable boat.

 

[rotrax]

I wound a bloke up big time last year in Ireland. He carved us up in his big Jeaneu exiting the Royal Cork YC Marina. He was with a big crew, in matching oilies.

Thirty minutes later, on course for Kinsale, slack tide but about to go foul, I put our Iron jib on and adjusted it so as to not get left behind.

Our boat is a big fat and heavy motor sailer with a small rig. By Oysterhaven he was trimming sails like a mad thing, but making nothing on us with our modest rig, but 110HP Yanmar chuckling away at 1200 RPM.

While alongside in Kinsale one of his crew came round to suss us out and enquire how such a big 'ole cruising boat could sail so well.

I told him we always sailed well, but that we must have picked up an eddy going our way...................................

 

[Sgeir]

My problem is that others pass us because they are better sailors.......

 

[LittleSister]

I like to think that if I overtake another boat it is due to superior skill, whereas if they overtake me it is plainly due to them having a faster boat.

As I've recently changed from a rare boat to a common one, this could be put to the test all too soon!

 

[neilf39]

Everyone knows that larger boats have a longer waterline so sail faster and smaller boats are lighter so sail faster. That is what I tell the wife but I think she is starting to suspect something...

 

[Wansworth]

On our first outing under sail in our Albin Vega we almost overtook another sailing boat within Chichester harbour and then our boat ran aground.

 

[[70521]]

I really don't care if I am passed by a better boat/crew I am enjoying myself.

 

[Davy_S]

We all good sailors, just as we are all brilliant drivers. The only way to tell the truth is to observe them, preferably from on board, or sail against them in a comparable boat.

Its very rewarding if you can attach a plastic dustbin to their keel first.

 

[Cactus Sailing]

Most boats have a LWL larger than us so we're often overtook with sails up.

as an ex dinghy sailor its not whos first on the water whos in the lead, everyone knows that right? we used to have an Enterprise dinghy at the club which could be over 2 minutes behind on some courses and still win the race!

if im doing 5knots COG sailing im very happy regardless who's passing me.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

SOme years ago, I was on a Clyde Scuttlebutt cruise, and after setting out for Tarbert from the pontoons near the ferry terminal on Great Cumbrae, a boat that left after us slowly started to overhaul us. As he was somewhat smaller, this was a little disquieting - until we realized that our sail trim wasn't correct, loosened the sheets a bit and walked away from him!

Sometimes, comparison with another yacht can show up faults in your own handling; sailing with another yacht is sometimes very helpful.

A little later we did have the opportunity to gloat a bit when he dropped his spinnaker into the water!

 

[LittleSister]

Sometimes, comparison with another yacht can show up faults in your own handling;

Faults? I don't have any faults in my handling! Sometimes the wind is wrong, though.

 

[newtothis]

I got overhauled by Emirates Team NZ once, but I think they were just having a lucky day.

 

[Babylon]

Neither - its about a passage well made (for yourself, your crew and your boat) and never mind the other guy.

 

[Muddy32]

Define "better"