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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 Catalina 250 Specific Forum
 Racing a C250		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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rmontgo
Deckhand

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USA
1 Posts
Initially Posted - 04/22/2009 :  08:45:04  Show Profile
<font face="Times New Roman"></font id="Times New Roman"><font size="3"></font id="size3"><font color="black"></font id="black">Does anybody race their C250? Any tips or suggestions for racing? I was thinking of draining the water ballast tanks to lighten the boat. Is that advisable? I’ve raced dinghies before so I’d be comfortable sailing with less ballast and controlling the boat with the mainsheet. I’d probably refill them if the wind was going to be over 10-12 knots.

Thanks,

Rob
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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts
Response Posted - 04/22/2009 :  09:40:20  Show Profile  Visit Prospector's Homepage
AACK!

I don't have a 250, but have heard that VERY BAD THINGS will happen if you sail with a less than full ballast tank.

Please don't try this.

Others will chime in with horror stories, the most recent involving kids drowning on lake Champlain when their WB MacGregor capsized while being motored with an empty ballast tank.
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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts
Response Posted - 04/22/2009 :  10:32:27  Show Profile
Rob, I raced in several community fleet events last year with my C 250 WB. The only time my ballast tank is EMPTY is removing the boat at seasons end. You should get a PHRF rating which helped me quite a bit. That was my first time racing and made some judgement errors, the boat WITH the ballast performed as well as I expected,with the double reef and IDA rudder I was comfortable in moderate winds. I tried to keep the heel at around 10 degrees or less. Your PHRF rating is based on this being a water ballast boat. Don't consider sailing that dude without full ballast tank.......
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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts
Response Posted - 04/22/2009 :  14:39:47  Show Profile  Visit britinusa's Homepage
Agreed with both! Keep the tank FULL!

Is a race the thing that happens when you see another sailboat that is almost on a similar course and you try to see if you can keep up with it... or better ????

Paul
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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts
Response Posted - 04/22/2009 :  15:39:17  Show Profile
Yes, Paul. It should be well known that the very first sailboat race began the moment the SECOND sailboat was launched. That's true even for us non-racers!
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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts
Response Posted - 04/22/2009 :  18:37:34  Show Profile
Be aware, whether racing or not, that a partially-full ballast tank will actually <i>destabilize</i> the boat--it's worse than an empty tank because what weight is in there will go to the low side.

For racing, from all accounts, the C-250 performs best "on her feet", which suggests ballast in all conditions, to keep the sails up where they can do their job. Also, unlike a typical dinghy, if the unballasted C-250 decides to tip over, your weight is going to have relatively little to do with preventing it.
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Jack Schafer
Navigator

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USA
112 Posts
Response Posted - 04/22/2009 :  21:08:27  Show Profile
I have been racing 2nd Wind for 9 years. Removing ballast water would not be a good idea. I'm sure you will be racing PHRF and that would disqualify you. Up wind my 250 can keep up with the best. Down wind in light air is another story. a nice breeze with proper trim will kee you close.
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Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts
Response Posted - 04/22/2009 :  21:30:06  Show Profile  Visit Steve Blackburn's Homepage
Reducing weight will help you with acceleration, but once you hit your hull speed then all the rest is just waste. Good sails, keeping it below 10 degrees of heel and slightly pulling back on the centerboard to give it about a 60 degree angle is the way to do it. Definitely do not sail this boat without ballast, don't even consider motoring without ballast in a slight chop.

As David put it, sailing with a half full tank is even worse than an empty one.
Edited by - Steve Blackburn on 04/22/2009 21:35:24
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.