American Women sails Round the World Solo!

[thomm225]

Today's boats though are just a different breed.

I remember back in the 1990's going with a guy to sail his Cape Dory 30 across Pensacola Bay.

I was racing a Nacra 6.0 at the time and when it was hit by a wind gust the windward hull would lift out of the water a bit and at about the same time the boat would shoot forward.

I noticed that day on the Cape Dory when I was steering that when it was hit by a gust it would roll over a bit and move forward slightly faster but not by much.

It appears the boats like Cole Brauer was sailing have that ability to move on out quickly when the wind comes up.

A 40' boat with a similar waterline and displacing about 4,000kg is going to move if designed right, and the boats those folks race these days are really something.

Even when heeled on it's ear it still moves really well. The boat is so wide the keel stays entirely in the water even when heeled excessively.

On top of all that, they have finally come back to tiller steering on these larger boats which is great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27kEWo2IvXg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9KOIkcTAvE