[C320-list] Upwind performance

[Allan S Field]

One needs to be careful when backing down when stuck however.  The risk is
significant of sucking sand and mud into the engine thru-hull.  I am not
sure of the veracity of this but have been  told it can clog the system.

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Warren Updike
Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2013 10:16 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Upwind performance

I'm not a racer and otherwise not interested much in performance, so I'll
not comment on those aspects.  This post is more about the wing keel than
performance.  I have heard that the wing keels while not great on pointing
are runaways on downwind.  I've no idea why this would be so; but, I haven't
seen it mentioned so I throw it out there.

However, when it comes to grounding, I've had a bit of experience there.
Sailing on the Chesapeake it is said that there are only two kinds of
sailors: those who have grounded and those who will.  Fortunately, the Bay
is "99.44% pure" mud or sand, so damage is usually avoided.  Patience is a
must as a solid grounding requires a tow or wait for higher tide.  Once, I
grounded the rudder on rock and waited-out the tide.  Even then, the bottom
of the rudder opened and required repair.  

>From my experience, a low-speed ground while motoring is best handled by
immediate reverse and power back.  Unless you know the bottom contours,
backing out is the safest bet.  Crew to the bow can help to raise the back
of the wing.  Once on the bottom, the wide bottom of the wing creates a
suction effect that is hard to break.  Kedging a halyard to create heel can
be helpful; but, not like with a fin keel.  I've had a successful recovery
with a kedge; but, only when I had deeper water ahead.

Warren & Pattie Updike
1994 C320 #62 "Warr De Mar"

-----Original Message-----
From: Amiraults Family [mailto:amiraults at sympatico.ca]
Sent: Friday, March 15, 2013 3:46 PM
To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Upwind performance

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