Catamaran tacking angle

[stevensuf]

How about a pole , Catamaran tacking angles, please be honest.


What tacking angle gives you the best VMG?

[admiralslater]

Originally Posted by stevensuf

How about a pole , Catamaran tacking angles, please be honest.


What tacking angle gives you the best VMG?

VMg on the is best about 40 aw and on the Outremer it is about 45 . Sea state is a big factor. These # are for not to bouncy

[Kiwi Dave]

My cat - one-off glass over ply with low aspect keels about 45 true in flat water (tacking through 90 degrees), as above sea state makes a big difference

[admiralslater]

I sould clarify I used so incorrect terminology in the last post on the Pdq I tack through about 80 and on the Outremer it is about 90 degrees on the compass

[44'cruisingcat]

Our autopilot has a VMG optimiser feature. It generally settles at around 30 - 32 degrees apparent.

The tacking angle over the ground depends on the wind strength and boat speed.

In light wind it is usually around 100 degrees, because we sail at a high percentage of TWS. In stronger wind, when we're reefed and sailing lower percentages, it can get down around 90 degrees.

[longjonsilver]

Originally Posted by stevensuf

How about a pole , Catamaran tacking angles, please be honest.

i thot that every sailboat had a pole, or is it just those that use spinnakers?

[barnakiel]

A good one will easily tack within 90 in flat water.


Otherwise the query is pointless, as you did not mention what catamaran you mean.


b.

[Dave_S]

I'm one of the tragics that like to sail upwind, I've had some really good advice from the great people on here. This is an old post but was great help. http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...mg-202231.html

Happy to be shown I'm wrong but I think there are lots of misconceptions around tacking angles, bigger is better. Wider tacking angles can be a sign of a good boat well sailed.

I sail around or above 30d AWA and around 48-55d TWA, My boat hits a wall at 28d AWA so I try to keep around the 30d plus to stay off the wall. To improve VMG upwind I try to keep my AWA and increase speed this widens the TWA, and by default this widens the tacking angle but increases speed by a greater amount so VMG is up and tacking angles increase. In the thread it mentions my best VMG might be made by bearing away from the 30ish but I haven't found that, still a work in progress.

It is possible to go too fast and once you have moved the TWA to more than 60d you will be starting to lose VMG. But if your boat is good enough to make that you can probably point higher.


PS. the 60d TWA max is only true for 30d AWA, each AWA will have a new peak TWA for max VMG.

[django37]

Depends very much on windstrength and seastate. Best VMG in 30 knots of wind, flat water and full main and genoa and mainsheet handheld. Will not give numbers, as I have been accused to be lying and cheating.

[Dave_S]

Originally Posted by django37

Depends very much on windstrength and seastate. Best VMG in 30 knots of wind, flat water and full main and genoa and mainsheet handheld. Will not give numbers, as I have been accused to be lying and cheating.

That's a lie that would never happen here......