Re: Hawaiian trade wind P14/15 HP race
Gordon (hlg@pacbell.net)
Mon, 9 Nov 1998 10:12:32 -0800
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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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I think it's been fairly well established that a Potter 15 can exceed hull
speed without actually planing. Lars tested his lateen rig Potter in gale
or near-gale conditions, downwind with the centerboard up, and found the
bow would raise as if the boat were trying to plane. (Would that be the
"bow wave climb" someone referred to?) I don't remember what his speed
estimate was but he reported an eerie "tone" being generated, by the CB
trunk apparently, something he had not heard at usual sailing speeds. On
Lake Tahoe, with a good breeze and fairly smooth water, my GPS read a
steady 5 kn for several minutes. I didn't notice any change in pitch
attitude. That was on a reach in the lateen rigged P14 and the CB down. I
believe Larry Costa reported clocking momentary 7.5 kn speeds surfing down
swells on San Francisco Bay.
Harry Gordon
P14 #234, Manatee
Mountain View, CA