I wanted to ask two questions about sailing the Wave, especially as it relates to how deep you sail this boat downwind. I was goofing around on my wife’s Wave last week in Pensacola Bay (family vacation), and I just felt that I was going slow downwind--- 5-10 mph winds, flat seas, 150 pound crew. I kept trying to head up and bare off to get some more boat speed, but I am still unsure if this is an accepted technique on this boat (or is the boat just sailed very deep downwind). The reason I kept heading up as the leeward telltales were stalling while the sails were hitting the sidestays. I don’t sail this boat very much so I am unclear of how someone like Mary or Rick sail their Wave downwind (yes, I know they sail it ‘fast’ downwind, but what technique and point of sail). Maybe it is something I am simply missing on this cat-rigged boat.
Second question; how important is tramp tension for performance on the Wave? I noticed the Wave’s tramp could easily be tightened (if I felt like doing it for my wife).

Thanks
Bob Klein
College Station, TX

I think that the boat prefers to reach. Deadass downwind without a traveler is pretty slow. The boat seems to move pretty good otherwise.

most 14foot cats get better vmg dead down wind most of the time

even the hobie 16 in very light winds tends to get better vmg DDW

i've been surprised that 17foot nacra 5.2 also tends to get better vmg ddw in the light stuff

you certainly do go faster reaching off in light winds but the reach tends to be so broad that vmg turns to custard

at least that my gps has been telling me........

When you are getting the lift on backside of the sail -- or what I enjoy saying "doing the Bernoulli (Brr-NEW-lee)" because it sounds Italiano -- you certainly are going to get the speed.

The "telltales were stalling" because the sidestays do kill the shape, but the shape has more to do with lift and there is no Bernoulli when going downwind.

On the Wave, I don't know of anything to make you go faster downwind except installing the traveler or doing the broad reach. Which sounds like you did.

There are ways to improve downwind performance, at the risk of looking very silly...


I'm actually on version II of my spin-brella, as a strong puff yanked it off the front of the boat, and it sank! Version II is secured to the bridle and mast, is self-setting, and has a line to douse it from the tramp.

For fun, reach. If racing head for the mark and you will be the reaching boats. That is the reason the IWCA has a class course, which has 2 beats, 2 reaches, and only one downwind.
Thus, the fast way to the leeward mark is head for it and get your weight as far forward as possible.
Rick

What's the boats name? The Mary Poppins?

I want to thank all of you for responding. The information is very valuable. While the umbrella concept looks interesting, I think I will pass on looking like Mary Poppins on the race course!

Rick; Something you yelled at me when taking your sailing seminar many years ago relates to this topic. I was sailing my Inter 18 too deep heading for the downwind mark. I believe your exact words were, 'head up, you aren't sailing a Wave'. I forgot that bit of wisdom until I read your post today.

thanks to all.
Bob Klein