[Rhodes22-list] Go Faster

[Lee Kuhn]

Allyn,

I don't race so take this for what it"s worth.  I also don't pay much
attention to my speed if I'm going downwind although I do use wing-on-wing
and a whisker pole and raise the centerboard.

I spend most of my time trying to go faster into the wind.  I look at the
knot meter and then make small adjustments to try to gain speed.

Jeff"s advice about real meat is extremely important.  Only so much you can
do if single handling.  Usually I start losing speed if heeling more than
25 degrees.  Always depends on the wind, point-of-sail, current,
adjustments, wife's mood. etc.

Stan says if the wind is more than 28 knots it's time to unfurl the iron
genny, but he's a better sailor than I.  If the wind is above 20 knots I
can't make any headway.  If you search the archives under Lee and
spreadsheet you'll find a post about sailing 3.5 knots at 40 degrees into
the wind in heavy chop.  Wasn't much headsail in use.

I love the 175 Genoa but I don't believe it helps much with speed unless
you're headed downwind with a whisker pole.  On a reach it takes 3 knots of
wind to inflate the monster and starts to slow you down in a 5 knot wind.
But she sure is pretty.  And how many boats do you see flying a headsail
twice the size of their main?

Few will agree but the owner of J-Boats will confirm.  You can go a little
faster into the wind in certain conditions if you raise the centerboard.
The keel alone will produce enough lift and you'll have less drag.  You
won"t make as much headway but you may not need to.

Good luck!

Lee
1999 Rhodes22  AT EASE
Claytor Lake, VA






On Tue, Oct 12, 2021 at 5:10 AM Allyn Baskerville <allynb at adsne.com> wrote:

> I’ve had my R22 two years now, and there is so much I like about it. The
> year I bought it, I learned to race on it and always came in last. I know
> it’s not a racing boat, but I bought it to do camping with my wife - for
> cruising and camping under the stars with the cockpit bed, it can’t be
> beat.
>
> This year, I raced almost every Wednesday and Sunday. We have a fair
> number of boats in Oklahoma City, but there is usually only 12-15 boats
> that race Wednesday and maybe 6-8 Sunday.
>
> I have the only R22, and the only boat I can beat is the Catalina 22
> (without factoring in PHRF - just raw time). There is usually quite a gap
> between my R22 and the boat in front, which is often a Capri 22. I’ve TLE’d
> more than I want to admit.
>
> Without buying a second boat, is there anything I can do to be more
> competitive? I did a bottom job after I bought it and used 4 coats of epoxy
> and then used ablative (not the best choice for racing, but I did ask
> around the club for advice before going this route), but I’m not about to
> redo that. I may have to grin and bear it.
>
> The boat does have the IMF. One thing I’ve battled a lot is the headsail
> when it’s furled - it’s baggy around the middle section, and the rear stays
> are taut. I try to keep it unfurled as much as I can, but the wind here is
> often too gusty. 18-20 mph with gusts around 30.
>
> Is it possible, given these parameters to knock 20+ seconds off the PHRF?
>
> Thanks, all.
> Allyn