How fast will she go under sail?

[Mark Prouty]

Crew are looking for speed and lets face it this boat does double digits in normal wind. Planing is a wonderful thing.

Umm?

The only place I have seen that this boat will do double digits is in the sales brochure. It says:

The 26 balances beautifully. A light touch on the wheel is all that is necessary to track a perfect course. The big twin rudders give excellent control. The boat is light. A light boat like this requires less sail area to sail fast, so sail handling is easy. The 26'slight weight and its powerboat underbelly allow the boat to gut up on top of the water and plane in heavy winds. In such conditions, these boats have exceeded 17mph under sail. Most small sailboats, with their round bottoms, have speeds limited to around 5 to 6 mph.

Has anyone reached double digit speeds under sail? How about double digit speeds under sail in normal wind? I don't think so but I thought I'd ask.

What is the fastest this boat will go under sail?

I think this topic has come up before but I can't find it.

[Harry van der Meer]

I would imagine running with a genaker and empty ballast in a brisk wind and little wave action she will do easily double digits. I would like to hear from those who have the genaker.

[TampaMac]

I touched 9 mph (gps) on a broad reach in about 15 knots of wind with main and jib. In actuality I was barely making over 8 mph (not knots!!) on average on that run.

Typically 6 mph give or take a mph is pretty easy to obtain.

I suspect that it is fully possible to make that 17 mph in ideal circumstances... like in 30 mph of wind and running the full spinniker. Good way to tear apart the boat but I bet it is possible just like the 24 mph.

I made 23.6 mph with a 60 hp motor and no mast or rigging. I suspect a stripped down boat with only a person and a gallon of gas could beat the 24 mph with a 50 hp that was in perfect tune.

But like many of Roger's claims they are possible only in the narrowist of circumstances.... I don't think he makes them up ... you just are not likely to replicate them without a perfect effort.

[Ken Smith]

Hear on the Niagara River with 15-18mph winds and a flat surface I've sailed 10.3 for a few miles and hit 10.5 from time to time. I've found that if you put weight up front this also helps. I haven't tried for speed lately because of a 3 yo. There is a narrow range of wind that the mac will do excellent speed in, it's hard to get that wind speed.
Ken

[Russell]

The fastest recorded speed that I have attained was 7.7 knots with the standard main and jib. I was sailing downwind on a broad reach and the wind was pushing at 16 to 24 mph. Great ride!

[Steve M]

I clocked 12.5 MPH on the M with 25+ MPH winds. Empty ballast 2ppl on board. On Biscayne bay. Windows under water at times
But on normal days she's a slug compared to other boats on the bay.

[Andy26M]

I've gotten 7.2 knots (not mph) on the Narragansett, about 15-18 knots of wind, broad reaching with a partially furled Genoa and full main. This was in slack tide so it is an accurate speed. With the Genoa partially furled you really have to play with it a lot to get any good performance, but it can be done off the wind. This is with a 2004 26M btw.

I've hit over 8 knots a few times, but that was with a little current helping

Above about 17-18 kts of wind, I always have to reef the main, but I solo all the time. I think with some more people onboard to help hold her flat without reefing, you could get more speed. However, I cannot see any chance of this boat hitting 17 mph (14.8 knots) under sail alone, assuming stock rigging, and operating within the safety guidelines presented by the owner's manual. In my opinion, raising the sails at any time without having the ballast full is foolish at best, and yes this includes downwind.

BTW, if you have been reading and lending credence to Frank Mighetto and the "Cruising Log of the Murrelet" site, be forewarned that most of what he has written is, hmm how can I remain polite, a little over-exuberant, perhaps? There have been many long threads trying to decide if Mr. Mighetto is "having us all on for a lark" or actually believes all of his writings...

- AndyS

[Paul S]

I've gotten 7.2 knots (not mph) on the Narragansett, about 15-18 knots of wind, broad reaching with a partially furled Genoa and full main. This was in slack tide so it is an accurate speed. With the Genoa partially furled you really have to play with it a lot to get any good performance, but it can be done off the wind. This is with a 2004 26M btw.

I've hit over 8 knots a few times, but that was with a little current helping

Above about 17-18 kts of wind, I always have to reef the main, but I solo all the time. I think with some more people onboard to help hold her flat without reefing, you could get more speed. However, I cannot see any chance of this boat hitting 17 mph (14.8 knots) under sail alone, assuming stock rigging, and operating within the safety guidelines presented by the owner's manual. In my opinion, raising the sails at any time without having the ballast full is foolish at best, and yes this includes downwind.

BTW, if you have been reading and lending credence to Frank Mighetto and the "Cruising Log of the Murrelet" site, be forewarned that most of what he has written is, hmm how can I remain polite, a little over-exuberant, perhaps? There have been many long threads trying to decide if Mr. Mighetto is "having us all on for a lark" or actually believes all of his writings...

- AndyS

We have maintained 7-7.5 (GPS speed) regularly in 10-12 knt wind. Still have no clue how to go faster...or what works..I sense it can go faster if I had a clue....and lightened the load..The boat has so much crap inside..that can't be good.

Still feels slow compared to our powerboat but it is nice boating without the noise of a v8.

Paul

[Tony D-26X_SusieQ]

I was out on the Chesapeake Bay yesterday in 15-20 MPH winds with gusts to 25 MPH. Quite a fun day. I was doing 3 Knots with the sail covers on. Boat was very difficult to control while powering. It settled down conciderably after I added ballast. Getting back to port was pretty wild since I was headed directly into the wind. Had do put on the slicks to stay warm and dry. Slowing to 4 knots did reduce the amount of spray across the deck and into the cockpit. Had a great day. Love the fall boating season.

[Miquel]

With the spi and about 15 to 20 knots (17 to 23 mph) of wind, and running, I have got 9 knots (10 mph) in the GPS, with no currents. This is with the ballast full, all equipment on board, 2 adults and 2 children. Big fun.

I would not dare to use the spi at higher wind speeds (even 4B, so 20 knots, begin for me to be the limit), as I would not sail unballasted. I imagine that I won't be able to get double digit speeds at sail , but I still get a lot of fun

By the way, the same day there were quite a lot of other "real sail boats" out there, and our Mac was really quick when compared to those not flying a spi.

Fair winds,

Miquel
Culzean