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Group's posts with tag: general sailing

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Blog EntryFeb 20, '06 8:32 PM
by jiiku for everyone
Hello !
 
 
I'm interested to try racing with my Ballad. I bought my boat at last autumn so therefore I don't have expreriences about racing. If you have some tips about trimming sails and rig, I would be very grateful. I'm also a little curious to know, how fast she can be?
 
best regards,
 
Jere Kuusinen
Finland

Blog EntryDec 21, '05 12:13 PM
by Jesper for everyone
Here is a windspeed converter: http://www.cactus2000.de/uk/unit/masswsp.shtml
 
It converts in between Beaufort, Knots and m/s and 5 other.

Blog EntryOct 20, '04 2:14 PM
by vcjones for everyone
We're pretty conservative sailors, and usually don't go out if heavy weather is anticipated.  Last Saturday, we were caught out on the Chesapeake Bay as a line of thunderstorms came through.  It was a cloudy, windy day, 15-20 kts with gusts to 30, but the weather report at the time we left did not predict any heavy weather. 
 
As we crossed the Bay, we saw clouds darken to the west of us, but as the winds were coming from the southwest, we thought the storm might go south of us.  That's when we heard a NOAA weather advisory about a line of storms going across the entire Bay traveling west at 30 mph with wind gusts to 40 kts.
 
I took in the genoa very quickly, but since it takes two people to take down or reef the main (and my sailing partner was down in the cabin in the small "window" of time we had to do it), we were caught with the mainsail up.
 
We turned on the engine, kept the boat turned into the wind, and the boat performed beautifully.  I was hoping that insurance might help to pay for a new mainsail, but even it came out just fine.
 
I'm glad it was a fast-moving storm (only experienced 15-20 minutes worth instead of the usual 45-50 minute Chesapeake Bay thunderstorm).  The experience, though, helped to build our confidence in our sailing skills, and in the ability of the Ballad to handle heavy weather.   I still intend not to get caught in that situation, but if I do, I will feel much less anxious.

If any of you have any experiences to share--especially those who have been offshore--I'd love to hear from you.

Cathi Jones

"Lyric"--Hull #205


Blog EntryJul 6, '04 9:17 AM
by Jesper for everyone
We went sailing with some not so experienced friends the other day. For some reason it just had to be (ask the missis). It was in 15 - 18 m/s winds, but it was no problem. The trip was only like  4 miles, but we had to tack and it took over an hour. The secret? the oldfassioned roller reefing on the boom, and the not so old fashioned rollerreefing on the forestay allowed us to reduce sails dramatically. the main was down to one foot above the struts, and the genoa was equally heavily reduced. We still sailed 5,5 to 6 knots against the wind, and healed only occasionally to the deck. The waves off course were not very big, but still, I think this is very good performance. We didn't meet any other boats on the water that day, and at the destination peole rushed to as if we were nearly shipwrecked. My girlfriend learned an important lesson: heavy winds does not allways mean rough or scaring sailing. Personally I'm looking forward to trying 20-25 m/s with even less sail rolled out. Our waters are very well sheltered, and I realize that big waves would make for another scenario.

Blog EntryApr 19, '04 1:00 AM
by usprelude2 for everyone
I have recently started racing my 1978 Ballad.  We have made great strides in upwind performance and hope to continue..however downwind is another matter.  We consistantly lose ground and are passed by what should be slower boats.  I  use a 150% genoa for downwind and recently added a whisker pole.  This definatlly helped but we still need more.  At this point we are sailing with the wind over over stern quater on the side opposite that of the pole.  The main, which is fairly new is let out until it is just touching the rear lower shroud. I ease up on the main halyard and outhaul.  We also loosen up the backstay tension and try to keep the weight centered or aft. 
 
Does anyone have any other suggestions?  Has anyone seen polar curves for this hull?  It would be great to have a base line to work with so we know what we are shooting for.  Any suggestions would be helpful....

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