Westerly Storm polars

[rsv]

Hi
I am looking for information about the Westerly storm performance?

Polars are available on the Internet?
Are they similar to the sigma 33?
I live in Belgium, and there is little information on this.

 

[westhinder]

Try the Belgian X-Yachts importer. He used to import Westerly when they were still trading, he may have some useful info.

 

[Woodlouse]

I only have experience of the Westerly Ocean, same hull but with bilge keels rather than a fin.

Anyway, based on that I would say no, it they are not similar to the sigma 33.

 

[richardbrennan]

There were several versions of the Storm;it started as a one design racer and had several versions with bilge keels, as a cruiser with a cut down rig and also as the Regatta 330 which had a quirky interior. I would try the WOA website for more information and they will also put you in touch with present and former owners.

 

[bert49uk]

http://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/

 

[H4B]

Polars for a Westerly

I have been trying to find a polar for the Fulmar for some time. No luck, even though they were used for match racing and if one does exist I have not found it out there. I wouldn't hold out too much hope from WOA . You will find out lots about maintenance but I think a polar diagram is going to far. You will probably have found the web site which tells you how to develop your own polar, but its not a quick or easy option requiring a lot of recording and accurate instruments.

Good luck

 

[richardbrennan]

I think H4B is probably right about polars for the Storm and Fulmar, I think these boats pre-date when polars first appeared. If you are looking for the performance relative to the Sigma 33 you might have to settle for a handicap comparison using something like a Portsmouth Yardstick.

 

[H4B]

Re

The OP may be after the info for performance trimming which is the reason for my own personal quest. The point, after all of a polar.

If rsv is after some comparative assessment then the Portsmouth Yardstick is a start but has fallen behind in up to date useable data for cruiser racing.The RYA are promising a revamped system for this coming season, we shall see!
The Byron web site data will probably give a more reliable indication of relative performance. However all the aforementioned are the basis of handicapped racing for cruisers and if a boat is intended more for cruising than there are clearly a lot more 'performance' factors that come into play.

Byron indicates that the Storm 929 gives the Sigma 33 at 931 12 seconds in the hour, so pretty much the same I should say. Although my Fulmar rates 971 and I have beaten both of these boats on the water which does tend to show up the potential inconsistencies of PY racing. Good sails can often upset this type of handicapping system.

 

[KREW2]

I have a Westerly Storm fin keel, I club race around the cans on Monday a night without much success, it's a heavy boat with a low handicap, and I am not an experienced racer. If the down wind leg is not long and I am short on crew by the time we get the spinnaker up it's time to bring it down.
However on passage races it comes into it's own, especially in rough and windy conditions.

 

[wotayottie]

Byron indicates that the Storm 929 gives the Sigma 33 at 931 12 seconds in the hour, so pretty much the same I should say. Although my Fulmar rates 971 and I have beaten both of these boats on the water which does tend to show up the potential inconsistencies of PY racing. Good sails can often upset this type of handicapping system.

And how! So can tides - really you need a different PY for neaps and springs. And for boat weight. And for crew - you're supposed to alter PY race by race to reflect performance in previous races.

The Sigma 33 handicap is a yardstick number ie one in which there is a lot of confidence based on lots of returned information.

I have a Westerly Storm fin keel,................ . If the down wind leg is not long and I am short on crew by the time we get the spinnaker up it's time to bring it down.

My experience too. If the legs are short and with the general "corinthian" standard of our racing, I find it an advantage not to use the spinny and leave the rest of the fleet to cock up either launch, drop or gybe of their spinny. With a half hour leg its a bit different but 10 min spinny legs round the cans are a waste of time on a familty cruiser not set up for it and with a casual crew.

 

[rsv]

Thank you for the information.