Great work, Henny. Many thanks. I have blown most of the day so far watching it. Wonderful that all the hard work is paying off. You have certainly got the shunts sorted out. The sails definitely look too full according to the draft stripes, did you try bending the mast to flatten them and remove the forestay sag? Look forward to the next installment.
Todd,
Rock solid indeed, although small waves. The spray off the rudders is not a big deal, some fairing of the X on the sides of the rudder boxes will fix most of that.
The spray off the bows is a function of the fullness of the end of the bow and the lack of rocker, which I think is what makes it look like it is trying too hard (excellent description). The bows are quite bluff, so could maybe be sharpened, but as long as it blows to leeward, it is not a big deal.
As to whether there is a speed limit, on Rare Bird in the Brisbane Gladstone we got a healthy gust (maybe 20 knots, no wind gear) and the boat took off. see the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pOsgqrO59A By the time we got the gps filmed, the peak speed was well over, but the first frame shows 16.8 knots. The boat felt rock solid, the bows were not down and it was all very comfortable. On my Elementarry (same hull shape, but smaller, with sharp ends, but just as much water thrown around) http://harryproa.com/Elementarry/SailingPhotos_4.htm I have hit 18 knots.
So Blind Date has plenty more speed available. Hopefully it blows 20 knots for the rest of the summer and Nol and Henny can find out.
I expect there will be a bit of flak about the wetness. Still, all they had to do was move into the cockpit. Probably get some about the speed as well, but I suspect the people sailing it were all first timers, and there was a reef in, so I am pretty happy, so far.
The other boats (both 60'ters) are certainly going faster, with more breeze and less spray, but this is the first proper sail on BD so plenty of time for improvements.
rob
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