Mystique, a C&C27 MKIII, is as tender as any of the old C&Cs and I have long considered putting in a 3rd set of reef points. A storm main sail is pretty much out of the question unless permanently rigged on a separate track imho. Otherwise changing mains once the wind has picked up sounds difficult at best. I have found the option of a second reef to be useful on many occasions, and I think you would too.
As for sailing with no main at all, my experience has been that performance to weather suffers noticeably. The boat has proven to have better balance at the helm than I had originally expected. This must be due at least in part, to hydrodynamic effects that tend to make the boat want to round up the harder it is driven leeward. Whatever the reason, rudder drag is not is not what makes the boat go slower if the helm is reasonably well balanced, so it has got to be the sail plan. I think you will get better performance with even a scrap of mainsail up when going to weather, and probably on a reach as well. Anyway, that's my take on it. Steve Thomas sv Mystique C&C 27MKIII Port Stanley, ON -----Original Message----- From: cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com]On Behalf Of OldSteveH Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2012 1:55 AM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List C&C 34 Sail Selection Thanks for feedback. I was quoting true wind so add 5 knots. We didn't lose the 1/2 knot of speed when reefing, only once we doused the main. I too have inboard tracks for the #3, they work well. John, the 34's main is not all that big to start with, I have considered having a second reef point put in but didn't think it was worth the bother. Cheers, Steve Hood S/V Diamond Girl C&C 34 Lions Head ON ------------------------------------------------------------ On Aug 7, 2012, at 8:32 PM, "John and Maryann Read" <johnpr...@comcast.net> wrote: >> Sounds about right and what we experience. For racing, we use a full hoist >> #3 with battens that not quite overlaps the shrouds and uses an inboard >> track I mounted on the cabin top. Starts to be really effective at 25 >> apparent. We have 2 reefs in the main, and if all that is too much it is >> time for the storm sail. Key is keep up boat speed and VMG. The more on >> her feet, the better the VMG >> >> John and Maryann >> Legacy III >> 1982 C&C 34 >> Noank, CT >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] >> On Behalf Of dwight veinot >> Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2012 12:52 PM >> To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com >> Subject: Re: Stus-List C&C 34 Sail Selection >> >> Sounds about right...the only important winds when under sail are apparent >> winds so I assume you are giving apparent wind strengths...surprised you >> lost 1/2 kt boat speed when you reefed, I would have expected less or no >> speed loss and less heel with more control in puffs...I also had a 24 and a >> 27III, before I got my present boat the 35 MKII which is a bit stiffer that >> either the 24 or the 27 MKIII but IMHO it could do with about 500 pounds >> more ballast low despite that it already has nearly 6000 pounds of lead in >> the keel >> >> Dwight Veinot >> C&C 35 MKII, Alianna >> Head of St. Margaret's Bay, NS >> -----Original Message----- >> From: cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] >> On Behalf Of OldSteveH >> Sent: August 7, 2012 1:32 PM >> To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com >> Subject: Stus-List C&C 34 Sail Selection >> >> >> Now in my 3rd summer with this boat I am getting better at choosing sails >> for the wind conditions, and would like to know how it compares with others >> experiences. >> >> From I have heard the 34 is a 'Lake Ontario' boat, designed for light air >> conditions, but able to handle other conditions as one would expect. >> >> Yesterday my crew and I were quite comfortable in steady 22-25 knot winds >> carrying the 3 and a full main on a beat, eventually putting in a reef. Heel >> angle was 20ish. When gusts to 27-29 started we were getting over to 30 >> degrees at times and I had to feather even the reefed main to keep the boat >> on its feet. We kept hull speed the whole time. >> >> Per other posts baby stay tension was moderate, backstay had 2500 psi on >> adjuster, mast pumping was minimal, weather helm one wedge of my wheel. >> >> Once we got steadily overpowered I dropped the main and sailed under #3 >> only, with much better heel angle. But we lost 1/2 a knot to about 6.2-6.3. >> Mast pumped a bit more but I only have 2:1 purchase on the baby stay so >> couldn't do much about it. >> >> My background comes from a C&C24 and a 27 MkIII, also tender boats so all >> here seems about right. How does it compare with others? >> >> Thanks, >> >> Steve Hood >> S/V Diamond Girl >> C&C 34 >> Lions Head ON >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com
