Fastnet Race at the start (pics)

[rbgarr]

Awesome canted keel shot. Impressive white cliffs. Gotta go sailing there someday ! :D

http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/07/0813/index2.asp

There's a race tracker here: http://tinyurl.com/yr6vbq

Note that as of 9:30 PM Monday (EDT-US), the yacht Freckles is shown as making 2+ knots on a NNE heading (27 degrees) approaching London.

Must be caught in traffic ... or somebody drove off with their transponder:D:D

[John B]

Alfa Romeo is going the wrong way, must be broken.

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/marine/inshore_forecast.html

Boisterous rather than brutal

[Hwyl]

South West veering Northwest just as they round the Lizard.
Rather them than me.
Must be the only gentlemen are on Freckles.

[elf]

http://www.regattanews.com/events/153/6895_2_FSTN07_DF_0337.JPG
Alfa Romero already retired, but Leopard seems to be sticking.

[rbgarr]

Leopard making 21+ knots over the ground heading northwest. If the wind is veering west and increasing from Force 5 to 8 the windspeed over the deck is 40-50+ knots.

A third (90+) of the fleet has retired.

[Figment]

http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/07/0813/1.jpg

Can you imagine the acceleration when that whole keel pops free of the surface at once and you lose all that drag?!!! :D

[rbgarr]

And then when that tiny-tiny-tiny prop clears the water, too. Whoa Nelly!:D:D

(Do you think those daggerboards are toed-in or is that a camera distortion?)

[Figment]

toed-in. Consider the waterplane shape when heeled at that angle.... the center of that shape runs from the bow to the daggerboard to the rudder, NOT down the centerline of the vessel. The course is not down the centerline of the vessel.

[The Bigfella]

Just looking at that canting keel provikes an idea. Instead of solving all those horrible issues down under the boat - why not a moveable keel on a track inside the hull - one that could take the weight to a spot 12' above where that bulb is now? Lots of issues moving the weight - but doable.

[Dave R]

There have been some airplanes built with weight in the tail that could be shifted fore and aft by the pilot in flight by means of a long jack screw. Suppose that sort of thing was done in the boat. Of course isn't that what the rail meat is for? Maybe they need to enlist bigger rail meat. :D

[rbgarr]

toed-in. Consider the waterplane shape when heeled at that angle.... the center of that shape runs from the bow to the daggerboard to the rudder, NOT down the centerline of the vessel. The course is not down the centerline of the vessel.

Not sure if you're trying to make a particular point or just an observation.
That's pretty much the case with any sailboat when heeling. The 'centerline' of the heeled waterplane will always describe an arc along the leeward side. Leeway (to windward anyway) makes it so the boat doesn't fetch a destination the boat 'points at along the centerline'.

[George.]

There have been some airplanes built with weight in the tail that could be shifted fore and aft by the pilot in flight by means of a long jack screw. Suppose that sort of thing was done in the boat.


How about mercury ballast, pumped back and forth to bulbs on the end of outriggers?

[rbgarr]

Just looking at that canting keel provikes an idea. Instead of solving all those horrible issues down under the boat - why not a moveable keel on a track inside the hull - one that could take the weight to a spot 12' above where that bulb is now? Lots of issues moving the weight - but doable.

IIRC LF Herreshoff generated plans for both canting keels and internal sliding ballast pallets in the early decades of the 1900s. Shifting water into ballast tanks in the sides of sailboats is a common feature now in different types of craft. I think the one shown above with the canting keel may also have ballast tanks.

[Figment]

Not sure if you're trying to make a particular point or just an observation.
That's pretty much the case with any sailboat when heeling. The 'centerline' of the heeled waterplane will always describe an arc along the leeward side. Leeway (to windward anyway) makes it so the boat doesn't fetch a destination the boat 'points at along the centerline'.

I phrased it poorly. Here, I'll phrase it poorly again but differently.

Big triangular-shaped boat, rudders at the corners.
Daggerboards in line between the bow and the rudders.
The "sailing shape" is different on each tack, but both shapes point toward the bow. The daggerboards, therefore, are toed-in, not aligned with the centerline of the boat.

[TimH]

http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/07/0813/1.jpg

Can you imagine the acceleration when that whole keel pops free of the surface at once and you lose all that drag?!!! :D

Imagine the acceleration when it breaks off!:D

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

...
Big triangular-shaped boat, rudders at the corners.
Daggerboards in line between the bow and the rudders.
The "sailing shape" is different on each tack, but both shapes point toward the bow. The daggerboards, therefore, are toed-in, not aligned with the centerline of the boat.

I rather think that they are toed-in for two reasons - the first as outlined, and the second because you can use Asymertical foil forms for a better L/D ratio - each board is only used on one tack.