Post by mikec on Sept 26, 2012 18:43:51 GMT
Hi folks,
I've posted before about Mescalito, my Catch 22 which I converted from fin keel to twin keels. Many people thought it a crazy thing to do, including some of the people I regularly race against in the CCS series of races run jointly by clubs in the Southend area. And I guess many here will share this view.
However, this boat has an impressive windward performance, especially in strong winds. You'd never know she's a twin.
I've had a fair number of good results, and got the IYC cruiser points prize last season.
Anyway, last Sunday was the Southend Town Cup race, held in easterly force 6 to 7 ... a decent breeze. Most entrants didn't turn up, one retired, leaving 6 starters.
I had the no 2 up and 1 reef and she was great to windward while trying things out before the start. Most boats had 2 reefs in and a working jib, and that's big fin keelers... I was by far the smallest boat. Mescalito was fast off the wind but comfortable and I knew she could give a bit more; so out came the reef. On the beat I had to spill a touch of wind but she pointed high and went fast, pulling ahead of the Moody 31 twin keeler and not too far behind the Barracuda, Sun Odyssey 40 and Dehler 36.
Then a couple of reaches, great exhilarating sailing, but the extra length of the Moody 31 told and she passed me. Not good news as I have to give her time on handicap (!).
But on the second beat, Mescalito went even better ... perhaps I was getting my hand in after a year off; also the tide eased off so the nasty F6-7 Thames Estuary wind over tide seas were reducing. Anyway I caught the Moody and pulled out a good lead, and was at least holding the Dehler 36 fin keeler (!). Then a fast run to the finish, staying ahead of the Moody.
The result was first overall on handicap (1081 PH) to take the Southend Town Cup!
A truly fabulous boat ... stiff and weatherly. By the way, I was singlehanded, so the boat had to look after me which she did rather well.
As many have said here, minitonners can be GREAT fun!
I've posted before about Mescalito, my Catch 22 which I converted from fin keel to twin keels. Many people thought it a crazy thing to do, including some of the people I regularly race against in the CCS series of races run jointly by clubs in the Southend area. And I guess many here will share this view.
However, this boat has an impressive windward performance, especially in strong winds. You'd never know she's a twin.
I've had a fair number of good results, and got the IYC cruiser points prize last season.
Anyway, last Sunday was the Southend Town Cup race, held in easterly force 6 to 7 ... a decent breeze. Most entrants didn't turn up, one retired, leaving 6 starters.
I had the no 2 up and 1 reef and she was great to windward while trying things out before the start. Most boats had 2 reefs in and a working jib, and that's big fin keelers... I was by far the smallest boat. Mescalito was fast off the wind but comfortable and I knew she could give a bit more; so out came the reef. On the beat I had to spill a touch of wind but she pointed high and went fast, pulling ahead of the Moody 31 twin keeler and not too far behind the Barracuda, Sun Odyssey 40 and Dehler 36.
Then a couple of reaches, great exhilarating sailing, but the extra length of the Moody 31 told and she passed me. Not good news as I have to give her time on handicap (!).
But on the second beat, Mescalito went even better ... perhaps I was getting my hand in after a year off; also the tide eased off so the nasty F6-7 Thames Estuary wind over tide seas were reducing. Anyway I caught the Moody and pulled out a good lead, and was at least holding the Dehler 36 fin keeler (!). Then a fast run to the finish, staying ahead of the Moody.
The result was first overall on handicap (1081 PH) to take the Southend Town Cup!
A truly fabulous boat ... stiff and weatherly. By the way, I was singlehanded, so the boat had to look after me which she did rather well.
As many have said here, minitonners can be GREAT fun!