Any tips on getting the best from an F27. I'm racing one for the 1st time this weekend

Paul

Weight placement is big. Just like a cat, weight forward until it starts to blow, then start moving back.

Thanks keith, i figure that there is some lift to be had from the lee bow if weight is foward too?

Paul

I'm not sure how much pointing you'll get, but in really light stuff you probably want to make sure the windward float is out of the water. I don't think there's much use beyond that, as you'll only be sinking the leeward float and increasing drag. The stern on the main hull is a little abrupt, so keeping weight forward in light to medium keeps the water flowing smooth there (if the boat you're on has the "swim step extension" this helps, although like everything the debate is how much). Most comments say that in most conditions if you're in the **** you're slow.

The main hull on Farrier tris are relatively flat on the bottom, this to initiate planing of the main hull. There is rocker aft that is intended to help pull the bows up under speed (when it's honkin' downwind get weight aft to help that rocker do its job). There's a speed jump when you get the main hull planing, so part of your goal in marginal conditions is to get there, keep the boat light and hot. The floats are not real high bouyancy, so there's not much point to flying the main hull much above planing (looks like fun in a Seacart, lots of spray and time to reef on a F-27) - you'll dig in and catch the beams.

To get you pumped - here's video of an early F-27 romping in SF:

F-27 Vid

Thanks for your thoughts, I now have some idea of what we are trying to do.
the boat in the vid is 3-up, what are the crew jobs upwind in a breeze? 1 helming, 1 mainsheeter and the other on the jib?
Whats the way to respond to gusts - just mainsheet or a bit of traveller/jib action too?
I have been lucky enough to do a bit of the Seacart thing,but they are way above my price range. If this weekend goes well, i may be posting to find reasonably priced F27s for sale on the US East coast.

Thanks again

paul

Upwind, helm, main trim, if it's really blowing somebody ready to release the jib (otherwise trimming may be difficult depending on how the boat is set up). If the traveler is like mine not much joy in playing it, better off playing the mainsheet for gusts. If there's a tiller extension helm can be out of the **** as well.

The third crew becomes more helpful in handling the downwind sails, spin sets and douses, trimming, and the like.

How did it go? Any thoughts on your experience? Inquiring minds want to know...

Hi Keith
It was a good weekend, I really enjoyed the change from F18 sailing.
It was the MOCRA Nationals [Multihull offshore Cruising/Racing Assoc]. Bit of a drifter of a weekend except for the 1st race which is not good when the boat has just come off the ship from the US and the crew have not sailed together/on the boat/ atall before! so we didn't really wind her up in the breeze.
For someone that is trying to decide which F to go for, it was very interesting as there did not seem to be 2 boats the same, here is the turnout as I can remember;

seacart 30
F33
F9A
F31
F28r
F27
F25c
Dragonfly 920
Dragonfly 800
Raider 30
Lynx 26
Firebird
Iraquois
Alien [one off]

I like the F27, its probably a fast boat but not in the same league as the F33 or 9A.
Being a racer, I like the special built boats [F25/9A] - the 27 seems a bit over built/rigged because it's a production boat.
Its important for me to get the wife interested and the F27 may be too cramped for her liking[rear double and general headroom]. Certainly the F82 is off the list now.
I am now in a dilema. Track down a decent US F27 and import to UK or spend the same money and build a F32 over 3/4 years?
thanks again for your help

Paul

With the 2-1 exchange rate you should be able to get a realy good deal on a F27 right now, there are several listed here for about $42-45,000 US. check out www.Fboats.com

I'm thinking about an F27 myself, more for cruising the Keys than racing.