Jerry, thanks for the education, would it be o.k. to forward your explanation to the SCA magazine site?
jmbn@innercite.com 02/19/02 02:39PM >>> Hi Randy- Haven't read the discussion in SCA but regarding the 15 and 17, I have some opinions. Aside from the obvious factor of the sailplans, the two main reasons for the excellent windward ability of the 15 and 17 (and also the M-23) are hull design and keel/rudder design.
Keeping things simple, the rounded hulls of both these boats keep wetted area low, which means more speed because of less drag, especially upwind because an easily-driven hull will have less leeway. Also, a round hull will be more symmetrical when heeled and therefore the helm will be affected less by heeling. Regarding the keel (I'm including the centerboard here) and rudder, the keel is not at all "hi-tech", but it is more so than most of the competition, and it IS quite effective. Rudders are pretty high-aspect, even when compared to performance boats, and provide a lot of lift to weather when the boat is tuned right. One of my "bibles" thirty-some years ago was Stewart Walker's book PERFORMANCE ADVANCES IN SMALL BOAT RACING, which discusses these things and more, and if you can find a copy you would enjoy it. Reading it kind of makes you want to go out there and mess with your boat. Published in 1969 by Norton, it's probably long out of print. Too bad. Jerry ----- Original Message ----- From: "Randy Watkins" <watkins@odpemail.tamu.edu> To: <montgomery_boats@lists.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2002 11:29 AM Subject: M_Boats: Mboat info
Hello Fellow sailors, Here are a couple of items that are of interest to Mboaters.
1. The Small Craft Advisor magazine has a discussion going about the M15 & M17 and pointing ability. Those of us that sail one know how well they point. If there's someone that could explain the "why" that would be beneficial to the discussion. This is great , honest magazine and well worth the cost of subscription.
http://www.smallcraftadvisor.com/
2. Doug King has posted a story / article about Jerry M. sailing the Sea of Cortez in a M15. It's good reading and will make you want to go cruising. Doug did a great job setting the article up as it was sent to him in a scanned ( Word ) format and kind of rough around the edges.
Take care
Randy & Greta Watkins M15#194
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