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Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Anyone help with heel angle?

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lancej
1st Mate

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81 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/21/2003 : 12:05:44

Hi everyone. I sailed from Buffalo NY to Port Colborne Ontario this last weekend. My C25 did great, averaging 5 knots close hauled all the way there and 6 knots on a broad reach all the way back.
Saturday on the way there I was fighting 4-5 foot waves in 15-20 knot winds somewhat comfortably while close hauled. I explained to my wife that as much as 20 degrees of heel was perfect for this boat, and although that comforted her, was I correct? Our last boat (Helsen 22) never heeled over 10 degrees as it was a slow boat with a very flat bottom. Is 20 degrees to much for a C25? When does everone else start reefing mains? I had a full main, and a 150 genny roled up pretty good, mabey to a 80% or so? I don't want to have lied to my wife, anyone want to help me out?? Thanks.

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John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2003 : 13:25:07

I aim for 10-15 degrees. More than that and my boat begins to slow down.

John Mason
<img src="http://www.users.qwest.net/~jamason/ali.jpg" border=0>
pronounced "Ali Paroosa"
1982 - FK/SR #3290

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Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2003 : 13:53:45

Hi Lance,

Snickerdoodle (fixed keel/tall rig) seems to like around 15 degrees the best. Sustained angles of 25 or more mean that I've too much sail up and need to either reef the main or change down to a smaller jib.....or both.

Yesterday was a perfect example. Winds were SW 10 to 20 with gusts in the 30's. I sailed (single-handed) on a broad reach for about 10 nm with my 97% Blade jib and the main fully raised but with a flattening reef in the main. This was perfect with boatspeeds averaging 6.0 to 6.5 nm. I had a few neat waves to surf on where Snickerdoodle got up to +7.0 nm. Fun sailing. Heeling angle (with the exception of one round up in a particularly strong gust) was between 15 and 20 degrees.

But, I knew that I had too much sail up for the upwind trip back to the marina. So, when I decided to return upwind, I tacked the boat without releasing the jib sheet. This effectivel placed the boat hove to on starboard tack. I eased the main sheet till the mainsail was luffing and tucked in a first full reef (took about 45 seconds with my single line reefing setup). After sheeting in the main to close hauled (traveler eased all the way to leeward), I sheeted the jib to port and headed back close hauled. To make trimming the jib sheet easier, I cross sheeted the jib sheet so that I could trim or ease the sheet from the weather side primary winch.

The trip upwind was with a heel angel of still between 15 and 20 degrees and a boatspeed that averaged around 6.0 (a little faster in the puffs - a little slower in the lulls). I experienced a couple of strong gusts that layed Snickerdoodle over to +30 degrees. But, these were short lived puffs and not the norm for the sail back home.

So, your inclination (pun intended??? Ha.) that a C25 is OK with a heel angle of 20 degrees is right on the money Lance.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

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Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2003 : 21:39:23

My experience is much less than, but consistent with, Bill's. My SK/TR wants a reef in the main at about 15 knots. I don't have roller furling, so I change the 150 to the 110 above 10 knots. I have found that in a blow, the boat will actually sail faster with less sail up because she's flatter and sailing more efficiently. When you heel beyond 15 degrees or so, you're spilling excess wind and losing power.

Brooke

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Steve Kostanich
1st Mate

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88 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2003 : 00:53:14

Lance,
I agree with all that has been said thus far, but would like to add that heel angle is also affected by the fullness of the sails you happen to be flying in any given condition. When I have my best condition main and jib up (a 130%er), I can carry them in higher wind velocities and flatter heel angles than my old blown out cruising main and 125% Lapper jib allow. The newer sails are both faily flat cut,so they don't become big bags pulling the boat onto it's beam end. You may want to evaluate the fullness of your sails relative to the wind velocities they may work best in, and then set the boat up accordingly.
Steve Kostanich C-25 1119 Equinox sk/sr moored Oly., WA.

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Corey
Deckhand

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Canada
24 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2003 : 02:28:08

Lance,

You should have come east just a little further though the Murray Canel and into the Bay of Quinte..I keep my boat at CFB Trenton Yacht Club. There is great cruising in the area, do a trip around Prince Edward County. I could always e-mail you some information of the tromping ground.

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dc07b3127cce948c4157fd6d0000001010" border=0>
Between The Sheets
1982 TR/FK

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Bruce Baker
Captain

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USA
402 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2003 : 15:14:49

I used to sail with a guy who was a very good sailor in most respects. He said that the perfect heel angle was 17 degrees. I asked if that applies to all boats? He said "yes". Well, I've sailed on boats that seem to like to heel less, but 17 degrees seems like a good place to start.

Bruce Baker
Falls Church, VA
"Yee Ha" 3573
'83SR/SK

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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.