Posted by johncd3141 (johncd@…>)
Another question for owners (and ex-owners) of the wing mast version
of the Freedom 25.
What do you need to to do to make this boat go upwind? Is there some
historical post I missed that described the magic setting needed?
In light winds (<5 Kts) I’m become convinced that the jib is needed,
even if it means dealing with tacking the jib sheets and the delay in
setting the spinnaker when turning downwind. Even with, what the tell-
tales indicate is, a powerful sail shape I’m dogging it upwind.
In better winds (10-12 Kts) the main alone seems have more than
enough power, but pinching is obviously out. I’m not sure how to find
that optimum point of sail where footing for speed gives you your
best VMG.
In stronger winds (~18 Kts) where you have twist off the top of the
sail and reduce the amount of mast rotation, keeping minimal heel
(~15 degrees max) and scalloping upwind seems to work well. But then
the chop slows me down it I miss time a wave.
Thanks
John Danielson
Posted by Charlie L. (clivaday@…>)
I have a round mast F25. I have improved upwind racing performance by
adding a folding prop-more speed/less drag. I also use a staysail,
tacked to the eye on the deck, with a wire in the luff, and mounted
on a Harken Staysail furler. The dimensions are 27.5’ on the luff
(would be 28.5 w/o the furler), and an LP of 12.3’. I am told that
the Wingmast version “should” be able to achieve the same results
with a shorter LP. Now I am able to stay close enough to the racing
boats upwind, to make up for my upwind losses, when I fly downwind
and reaching. Call me at 251-928-8967 if you want. Charlie on Mobile
Bay
— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, “johncd3141” <johncd@…>
wrote:
Another question for owners (and ex-owners) of the wing mast
version
of the Freedom 25.
What do you need to to do to make this boat go upwind? Is there
some
historical post I missed that described the magic setting needed?
In light winds (<5 Kts) I’m become convinced that the jib is
needed,
even if it means dealing with tacking the jib sheets and the delay
in
setting the spinnaker when turning downwind. Even with, what the
tell-
tales indicate is, a powerful sail shape I’m dogging it upwind.
In better winds (10-12 Kts) the main alone seems have more than
enough power, but pinching is obviously out. I’m not sure how to
find
that optimum point of sail where footing for speed gives you your
best VMG.
In stronger winds (~18 Kts) where you have twist off the top of the
sail and reduce the amount of mast rotation, keeping minimal heel
(~15 degrees max) and scalloping upwind seems to work well. But
then
the chop slows me down it I miss time a wave.
Thanks
John Danielson
Posted by lance_ryley (lance_ryley@…>)
Hi John,
definitely pay attention to Charles’s ideas for a ‘staysail’ that is
more of a jib. I would think that on the 25 wingmast which already has
running backs, that you could handle the extra pressure of a well-
formed staysail pretty well. It’s pretty clear that the tack has to be
at deck level in order to get the most out of the boat.
But I would also remind you that you are still sailing a catboat, and
that you will probably will never be able to point with the J-24s and
Olson 30s. You already noticed how powerful the rig is - my impression
in the 25, the 21, and in fact even the cat ketches (I used to own a 40
ck) is that it is better to reach off a little to keep the rig powered
up and the boat driving than trying to pinch to weather, which in these
catboats is slow. You’ll probably see more leeward slide when pinching
as well.
you do have the advantage of the wingmast, which when properly rotated
should provide slightly better upwind performance than the round mast
version by keeping the angle of attack in a good alignment.
Lance