top speed

[Rick Klages]

Com-Pac sailors of all kinds, whats the fastest speed you have ever experienced while sailing?

I saw 4.3 Kts last week on my c-16/3 recorded by GPS.  The fastest Ive ever gone on a displacement hull sailboat was just over fourteen Knots (by conventional in the water transom mounted speed tube) while surfing down waves on one of my mentors boats; a J-41 named Dazzler (Hull speed 7.8Kts under normal conditions).

Like this one.   
    LOA ..................... 40' 9"
    LWL ..................... 34' 2"
    Beam .................... 13' 2"
    Draft ...................... 7' 4"
    Displacement .......... 15,400 lbs. approx.
    Ballast ................... 6,500 lbs. approx. lead

Big symmetrical spinnaker out, West bound down half the length of Long Island sound.  Crossed under the Throgs neck, White stone and Tri borough Bridges.  I swear we were stopping car traffic on that July day. Exhilarating!  Mt. Sinai Harbor into New York City Harbor.  Slept that night rafted up at the South Street Seaport after a prodigious pub crawl of South Eastern Manhattan.  A trip I will never forget.  Also I won't forget racing with a hangover the next day!

ick

[Rick Klages]

Just saw 5.8 Kts momentarally (GPS) on "Steppin' Up". My son and I were going to Cutchouge harbor from N. Jamesport.  Most of the time we were going about 5.2.  Awesome hour long broad reach!  Ricky lost his first tooth on the ride (bagel).  "Steppin' Up" is really starting to become a member of the family.  Very sea kindly but a bit wet.  Because the wind changed beating home was a chore.  Half way there we decided to motorsail and then to just motor.  The littleguy decided to go below and nap on the port berth.  He didn't wake up until I loaded him and "Steppin' Up" on to the trailer.  Great boat, great day.  Best of all he didn't complain once!


ick

[Gil Weiss]

Glad you and your son are enjoying Steppin' Up Rick. Your 5.2 is probably close to max hull speed. The Cal 40 we sailed this weekend has a rated max speed of 8.1. We had it up to 6.3 several times which was quite exciting. The boat was very nice and comfortably daysailed with 9 people and the Chesapeake Bay was a beautiful place to sail. The boat had an auto pilot which I initially did not trust - but I got used to it quickly. You punch in your compass heading and hit "auto". Very cool . . .  there are sensors on the rudder and bottom that will turn the boat into the wind if it heels too much.

All that being said, the maintenance and related stuff on a boat that big is more than I want to deal with.  I did not get 21footitus as I am happy with what I have!

Yesterday was RC helicopters (need something since being boatless) and then I watched the film Empire of the Sun. The theme song is Suo Gan which is where my new boat got its name.

Keep up the great sailing up there . . .

[Rick Klages]

Gil,  here are the lyrics!

Huna blentyn, ar fy mynwes
Clyd a chynnes ydyw hon
Breichiau mam sy'n dyn amdanat
Cariad mam sy dan fy mron
Ni chaiff dim amharu'th gyntun
Ni wna undyn a thi gam
Huna'n dawel, annwyl bientyn
Huna'n fwyn ar fron dy fam

Huna'n dawel hana huna
Huna'n fwyn y del ei lun
Pam yr wyt yn awr y gwenu
Gwenu'n dirion yn dy hun
Ai angylion fry sy'n gwenu
Arnat yno'n gwenu'n llon
Titha'u'n gwenu'n ol a huno
Huno'n dawel ar fy mron

Paid ag ofni, dim ond deilen
Gura, gura ar y ddor
Paid ag ofni ton fach unig
Sua, sua ar lan y mor
Huna blentyn nid oes yma
Ddim i roddi ti fraw
Gwen'n dawel ar fy mynwes
Ar yr engyl gwynion draw

Or:

To my lullaby surrender,
Warm and tender is my breast;
Mother's arms with love caressing
Lay their blessing on your rest;
Nothing shall tonight alarm you,
None shall harm you, have no fear;
Lie contented, calmly slumber
On your mother's breast my dear.

Here tonight I tightly hold you
And enfold you while you sleep,
Why, I wonder, are you smiling
Smiling in your slumber deep?
Are the angels on you smiling
And beguiling you with charm,
While you also smile, my blossom,
In my bosom soft and warm?

Have no fear now, leaves are knocking,
Gently knocking at our door;
Have no fear now, waves are beating,
Gently beating on the shore.
Sleep, my darling, none shall harm you
Nor alarm you, never
And beguiling those on high.

So let "Suo Gan" sleep till spring, dreaming of the sea and of new voyages.

ick

[Bob23]

6.2 knots (gps) by "Koinonia" (1985 23/2) this summer in Barnegat Bay, NJ.

[curtisv]

Not sure what top speed I've hit on my CP23.  I've sustained over 6 knots on the knotmeter sailing off the wind for more than an hour (a very long tack).  I don't remember the top speed by kept the average over 6 sailing wing and wing with the jib poled out on a 12' whisker pole.

When sailing with my son and his boy scout troop in the Virgin Islands on a Beneteau 505 (about 50 foot) we hit 7.1 motoring but at a bit over the recommended RPM (very briefly).  We did 7.7 knots under sail to windward and 8.2 sailing off the wind if I remember correctly.  We had 25 knots of wind one day and were one of very few charter boats that knew how to deal with it (reef!).

Haven't been sailing much in the last few years.

Curtis

[newt]

I know this is an old thread but I just had to reply. We hit 11 knots in a displacement cruiser (Island Packet 40) while running from Hurricane Erwin in the Florida Everglades, I was concentrating to much to really enjoy it. Force 7-8 conditions, and the rest of the crew thought they were having a great time.

[Bob23]

wow, that must have been thrilling... 11 knots in a heavy boat like that!
I always understood the Island Packets to be slow boats by nature of thier full keel design...must me a myth!
Bob23 not doing any knots presently- on the hard in NJ!

[roland cobine]

    all this talk of speed makes me that much sadder that it is 37 this morning. cant wait to get my cp 16 "in the groove". these little boats may not be fast but someone said that they sail like the big ones. fun is the word.

[Gil Weiss]

FUN is the key . . .  and what is cool is how fast 4 to 5 knots feels in a CP16. With some heel and spray coming over the bow you feel like your going much faster . . .

"The time for fun will be here soon"

Gil