[C320-list] Upwind performance

[Amiraults Family]

Rick:

 

I race PHRF-LO JAM on the Ottawa River. The boat is a wing keel, the sails
are in good condition but not racing quality, there is no adjustable
backstay and I have a feathering prop. My boat NEVER wins, but there is
ALWAYS beers on board at the end of the evening. We are competitive with
other wing keel Catalinas (and usually beat them) but simply cannot point as
high as the fin keel boats like the usually winning Niagara 31 with its
racing sails, narrow beam and 8500lb displacement. If winning is important
then avoid the wing keel.

 

If draft is important then go with the wing keel.

 

Either way, if livability is important then go with the open transom and
swim platform. I race for fun and really don't need the glassware (single
glass) awarded in the fall for the winner in each race series. In my harbor,
the Niagara did not race for much of the summer of '11 'cause her 5' draft
could not leave the harbor due to the unusually low water levels that year.
In that year I only tapped bottom twice. I wanted to race but we needed the
livability and so in the search for our current boat open transom was a
must-have.

 

As to the weight; when you're lucky you get what you pay for. Any boat with
this broad a beam will weigh more as there is simply more material used in
the construction to yield the volume. When comparing apples, like Catalina
and the Jenn-ateaus you will find the former displaces more. But then the
hull is solid glass and not a lighter glass/foam sandwich.  It thus goes
slower with everything else equal. Still, in my the last race collision
(summer '07 and the protest committee ruled the boat hitting mine 100%
at-fault) I was racing again the next week with duct tape over the hole
while he was out most of the summer for repair.

 

There is also something to be said - over an older design - for DC
refrigeration, gas stove/oven, head near the companionway,  and a shower.
Oh, and those older narrower boats tend to have cockpits snugly-perfect for
sailing but not so roomy for living on the hook with the family.

 

I love my 320 and so does the family.

 

Brian Amirault

797 Waltzing Bear, too