Behavior of race boat on a mooring

[kindrunnermike]

I am seriously considering the purchase of a former 44’ racer with a draft of 9.5 for my day sailing use in PR and the USVI. I am getting conflicting information. Will this this type of boat generally misbehave while attached to its mooring? In another words, am I going to have a problem with a lighter racing hull and a long bulb keel in terms of it dancing around in a way that it is going to get fouled up on the mooring ball frequently? Maintaining a dock space is not in the cards so this is an important question.

I do not want to find out the expense of shorting the keel and reducing the size of the rig and sails so I intend to leave the boat specs as is.

Any thoughts or experience with this you can share?

[kindrunnermike]

Anyone out there?

[donradcliffe]

I don't think you will have a big problem. Depends on whether there is wind against tide where it is moored.

[psk125]

We had issues with our J/36 yawing about at anchor or tied to a bow mooring. Dragging some buckets in the water off the stern slowed the activity considerably. Others often put up a riding sail- a small triangle of cloth perhaps the size of a storm trysail - hoisted from the stern and sheeted off tightly amidships to keep the boat pointed into the wind. Every boat is different. Your 44'er might not have this problem. As Donna suggests, there are lots of variables.

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by kindrunnermike

I am seriously considering the purchase of a former 44’ racer with a draft of 9.5 for my day sailing use in PR and the USVI. I am getting conflicting information. Will this this type of boat generally misbehave while attached to its mooring? In another words, am I going to have a problem with a lighter racing hull and a long bulb keel in terms of it dancing around in a way that it is going to get fouled up on the mooring ball frequently? Maintaining a dock space is not in the cards so this is an important question.

I do not want to find out the expense of shorting the keel and reducing the size of the rig and sails so I intend to leave the boat specs as is.

Any thoughts or experience with this you can share?

The keel depth should not affect how the boat sits on a mooring. The deep draft keel will resist leeway slightly better, not tremendously. Look elsewhere for the issue. Mostly, I think, it is that the hull exposed to the wind catches more than the hull (and keel) immersed in the water.

I don't know if the boat will actually move around so much that it is a problem. My race boat with an 8" keel doesn't move much more than nearby full keel cruising boats. Faster maybe, but not further. We have not ever had a problem getting tangled in the mooring or with other boats.

Are you sure you are not getting negative comments from someone who actually hopes you don't buy a boat which makes his boat look slow or bad? It happens.

[DefinitelyMe]

No, it'll be fine. Almost every boat in Bermuda is on a swing mooring. Racers, cruisers, monos, cats, motorboats, floating docks, you name it. They all do fine once you get a bridle setup that works. Yes some swing more than others but it's no big deal.

[ItDepends]

I'll bet the OP has been listening to "that guy" who is always at the yacht club bar with an opinion about everything. He knows everything, just ask him.

[kindrunnermike]

Originally Posted by wingssail

The keel depth should not affect how the boat sits on a mooring. The deep draft keel will resist leeway slightly better, not tremendously. Look elsewhere for the issue. Mostly, I think, it is that the hull exposed to the wind catches more than the hull (and keel) immersed in the water.

I don't know if the boat will actually move around so much that it is a problem. My race boat with an 8" keel doesn't move much more than nearby full keel cruising boats. Faster maybe, but not further. We have not ever had a problem getting tangled in the mooring or with other boats.

Are you sure you are not getting negative comments from someone who actually hopes you don't buy a boat which makes his boat look slow or bad? It happens.

Thank you. You are very close. I am getting the comment primarily from someone who is anticipating that they may have to deal with issues with the boat while on the mooring in the event I am not nearby.

[kindrunnermike]

Originally Posted by ItDepends

I'll bet the OP has been listening to "that guy" who is always at the yacht club bar with an opinion about everything. He knows everything, just ask him.

Funny!
We certainly have a few of those guys, but that is not the source.

[Joli]

While on the mooring it'll probably tack to close to the cruisers.

[SV_Sweet_Ruca]

Our 46' Cruiser/Racer did just fine on mooring balls in those areas (we don't have a T bulb but it wouldn't matter) but do consider that your boat may move differently than others in the field. Use caution in a tight field, especially when the wind dies.

Wouldn't let this stop you from buying the boat! Good luck!

FWIW We have moored in a few situations with extreme current or wind shifts that have caused issues with mooring balls scratching the topsides, but never an issue with the keel.

[Jim Cate]

I agree with Fred that the keel won't make a big difference in the way she lies to a mooring. In my experience with boats with shallow forefeet is that freeboard and windage forward are the biggest factors. If you plan to have one or more roller furled headsails there will me considerably more "sailing" about than if the stays are naked. The same goes for stored dinghies or kayaks on the foredeck, and so on.

Jim

[svRaison d Etre]

I remember in Gustavia in St-Batrh in the 90's that a boat anchored next to us did not behave the same way as the us and other boat in the anchorage and we had to fend him off often. Someone said that was because he was a "racing boat and he sailed the courant"! true or not ???

[jeanathon]

There was another thread about boats sailing while at anchor. As Jim said it was more about windage forward of the mast than anything. I know with my boat when I had our kayak forward of the mast she tended to sail past the anchor.