Speedy westerley

smeaks

smeaks

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Ok apologies if this turns into a competition...... But which of the many westerley circa 30 footers takes the prize as being the fastest. I will omit the Gk29 as I am only thinking about the cruiser variants....

Your views westerley owners?
 
Searush's Pentland I expect

As he says you should look at the PY numbers on the RYA website but there are so very few trusted figures the value is limited although I guess the faster boats will be the ones for which there are the most reliable figures.

Also look at the figures on http://www.byronsoftware.org.uk/bycn/byboat.htm


Storm 33 followed by the Fulmar.

>
 
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VicS said:
Storm 33 followed by the Fulmar.

>
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I'd agree on theoretical speed, but for a given level of crew competence the Fulmar is an easier rig to handle so might be faster round the cans; having done short windward/leewards on a Storm it's hard work compared to a Sigma 33 even in moderate winds.
 
penfold said:
I'd agree on theoretical speed, but for a given level of crew competence the Fulmar is an easier rig to handle so might be faster round the cans; having done short windward/leewards on a Storm it's hard work compared to a Sigma 33 even in moderate winds.
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Why is the storms rig so much more challenging?
 
smeaks said:
Why is the storms rig so much more challenging?
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Masthead rig so the No1 is HUGE, as is the spinny and the babystay makes tacking and gybeing an involved process even for a well drilled crew. If I had one I'd have the babystay on a pelican hook so it could be stowed out of the way in light/moderate winds as it was a royal pain in the arse. In heavy weather end-for-ending the pole became a 2 man job, the babystay preventing dip-pole gybes; perhaps two poles would be a way around it, but heavy(the standard pole is overengineered and nearly twice as heavy as a Sigma 33 pole) and expensive. The Fulmar rig is pretty much the same height but it's fractional with no babystay. With hindsight I wonder what Westerly were thinking as the Storm was initially touted as a one design, copying the Fulmar rig would have made it a better allround boat; perhaps they were worried about market segmenting.
 
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I race my Storm round the cans, and it's very hard work, when there are only 2 of us, the huge rig is a handful in strong winds, and the spinnaker is too much like hard work, I need at least 3 to fly it, and even then in light winds, if the run is short it's hardly worth it.
However on a passage race, with an experienced crew they come into their own.
 
penfold said:
Masthead rig so the No1 is HUGE, as is the spinny and the babystay makes tacking and gybeing an involved process even for a well drilled crew. If I had one I'd have the babystay on a pelican hook so it could be stowed out of the way in light/moderate winds as it was a royal pain in the arse. In heavy weather end-for-ending the pole became a 2 man job, the babystay preventing dip-pole gybes; perhaps two poles would be a way around it, but heavy(the standard pole is overengineered and nearly twice as heavy as a Sigma 33 pole) and expensive. The Fulmar rig is pretty much the same height but it's fractional with no babystay. With hindsight I wonder what Westerly were thinking as the Storm was initially touted as a one design, copying the Fulmar rig would have made it a better allround boat; perhaps they were worried about market segmenting.
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ah i see.. i single hand a moody 27 at the moment and know what work the genoa can be. I think the storm and perhaps the fulmar may be too much to rely on single handed.

any experience of single handed sailing on one of these?
 
smeaks said:
ah i see.. i single hand a moody 27 at the moment and know what work the genoa can be. I think the storm and perhaps the fulmar may be too much to rely on single handed.

any experience of single handed sailing on one of these?
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A friend on the next mooring to me has a Fulmar, I have a Storm, we both occasionally sail single handed, and reef at about 12knts true. Get them well balanced and they sail themselves beautifully.
 
smeaks said:
ah i see.. i single hand a moody 27 at the moment and know what work the genoa can be. I think the storm and perhaps the fulmar may be too much to rely on single handed.

any experience of single handed sailing on one of these?
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I mostly single hand my Fulmar. I have roller reefing on the forestay but a selection of sails to put on it. I generaly sail with the No. 2 up which is about 100% and can tack without winching making life very easy and I cant say I have noticed a loss of performance (but I dont race!). If light winds are forecast I put the no.1 on the furler.

If I have crew its the No. 1 up as have to make the blighters work!

Stuart
 
smeaks said:
Ok apologies if this turns into a competition...... But which of the many westerley circa 30 footers takes the prize as being the fastest. I will omit the Gk29 as I am only thinking about the cruiser variants....

Your views westerley owners?
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An Ocean 33 will knock spots off both Fulmar and Storm.
I owned one for several years and in the WOA races won most of the line honours trophies at that time.
 
Rather vauge question really, what do you mean by fast: Infered to win on handicap: we have a Konsort bilge keeler and on a passage race with some wind and mostly reaching will always be in the top boats. If you want a fast passage maker then surely easily handled holds a course easily etc will make for a faster boat?

I have thought about down sizing to a longbow and when my current boat needs a new engine or rerigging (which I cannot afford) A longbow would be on my list.

Lots of people have spoken about mast head rigs being hard work to windward but you can always put on bigger winches and only really an issue if doing short tacks to the windward mark.

Sailed my conway around Jersey in a race on Saturday, unfortuntely the wind died and I did not finish in time for a result but I was an 1 1/2 hrs behind the first boat a quarter tonner in a 9 hr sail. I was also singlehanded and the others had crew.


http://youtu.be/RGAlKrXCP48
 
smeaks said:
ah i see.. i single hand a moody 27 at the moment and know what work the genoa can be. I think the storm and perhaps the fulmar may be too much to rely on single handed.

any experience of single handed sailing on one of these?
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Fit any of them with a 100%/blade jib and they are readily singlehanded, although an autopilot will make it even easier.
 
The late Tony Williamson, occasionally of this parish, used to own an old Westerly called Dancing Maid. It was well known that no stripped-out racing boat could possibly beat her.

That was his story anyway.
 
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