SO 409 performance tips

[juanluis]

I’m beginning to sail in a SO 409 in the west Mediterranean (Spain), and I’d like to share experiences. The boat is the Performance version (140% genoa, folding propeller, etc., and besides that a bimini), and my first results of the practice tests are: a) 6 knots (sea state: smooth, TWS: 9 knots, TWA: 40º).
With a 106 jib, results are: a) 8.5 knots (sea state: smooth, TWS: 16 knots, TWA: 70º), b) 9.1 knots (sea state: waves 1.5 meters high, TWS: 25 knots, TWA: 90º).

I would be very glad to know about other SO 409 results and share tips on improving performance.

[davideso37]

I guess you are somewhere between Roses and Tarifa and just want to make us all jealous.
Cannot give advice over the forum. You need to send air line tickets for two, Sydney to Spain.

Hope my attempt at humour does not offend.
David

[juanluis]

Absolutely, a bit (or a lot) of humour is always welcome. I’m afraid I’ll make you still more jealous, as my sailings last summertime have been in Mallorca and Ibiza. As for the tickets, I plan to win next lotto game and send them to you.

More on performance: have been doing some tests on putting the sheet of the jib on the outer track (the 409 performance version is equipped with four jib/genoa tracks) while sailing at 90º TWA, and have noticed a slice improvement on speed and a more noticeable improvement on list. Has anyone found speed improvements when doing so?

[davideso37]

Re the jib sheeting once you are off a close hauled course the wider the genoa is sheeted the better. On our SO37 when reaching in non spinnaker races we occasionally use a barber hauler to bring the sheets out to the rail.
I do like the sheeting options on the SO409 and have thought of putting cabin top tracks for our 105% jib which I would like to sheet inside the shrouds for working but then the sheeting angle is not right for reaching so your observations are correct.

Regards
David

[juanluis]

I was sailing yesterday against a 30 knots wind (apparent) at 30º (AWA). Sails: 103% jib, one reef on the mainsail. The wind the jib was directing towards the mainsail was so strong that the mainsail did not seem to be working. Should I accept this as normal or to think that I had not correctly trimmed the sails?
Thanks.

[davideso37]

Juanluis,

Sounds normal for 30 knots to me. The mainsail is working if the leech is not flogging and only the front part of the main is backwinding. Once the backwinding is severe it is time to put a second reef in. Sounds like ideal conditions for a sail in a good yacht.
Regards
David

[juanluis]

I’m considering taking part in solo races and plan to install a movable stay to be able to hoist an 80% jib. I wonder if it’s more practical to fix it just behind the stay (where the 140% genoa is usually hoisted) or further back (say, a meter/yard back). If I put the movable stay just behind the stay I guess it would be very difficult to handle the genoa, so I’d like to be able to take away the movable stay the days with light winds. Now, is it very difficult to fit and take away movable stays? Has anyone any experience with this? I’d like to know opinions.

[MartyB]

Putting in a movable stay "should" be reasonably easy per say. Assuming you can get below the attachment point on the deck to beef that area up so where teh stay is attached it will not pull upward. Then getting an attachment point on the mast, halyard etc should also not be too hard to do etc.

IMHO, it might be easier to instal dual forestays frankly. THEN, you could have a furling 140, and a furling say 110 or slightly smaller. I am also recalling that some brands will allow you to hoist a furled sail, altho that might be more of a asymetric or code zero style head sail. BUT, if you could get one hoisted already furled, you could hoist the 2nd as the wind is piping up, furl the larger HS, then unfurl the smaller one.

You might look up "babystay" as an option for the inner stay. You can also put this up when going longer distances on a single tack, and use it to bend the mast some in the middle for a triming tactic to increase, decrease the mains full or flat shape.

Marty

[davideso37]

Marty,

I think that you cannot race with dual forestays although both solent and cutter rigs are allowed. There were quite a few discussions on installing solent stays a few years ago and it might be worthwhile revisiting some of those posts.

Regards

David

[MartyB]

David,

you could be right re dual forestays and racing. Altho I could swear I have seen it done....... then again, maybe it was on some of the solo challange of an across the atlantic type race that i am recalling........It would be something i would look into and do such an option if i could.

marty

[juanluis]

Thanks for the comments.

I’ve asked and they say that to install a second forestay is allowed here (Spain) provided it is declared in the rating specifications. I made a search through the forum and entries found so far refer to tips on installing solent estays. My next question is if it will be more useful (more practical) a solent stay with a furler or a movable forestay.

Juan Luis

[davideso37]

Juan Luis,

A very good question. I do not have either as we race a lot and I do not want the problems of getting the genoa around the inner forestay when tacking. If I was sailing off shore and doing long passages I would think seriously about a Code Zero on a bowsprit for light airs and an inner forestay where I could fit a furled storm sail for the heavy airs.
So in my view it depends very much on your type of sailing and personal preference.
Regards
David

[mred25234]

what rating rule are you racing under? We are in Lake Erie with a PHRF rating of 102.

[juanluis]

I'm not racing and have not yet asked for the rating. Races here (Valencia, Spain) are being done under ORC and RI club (a less demanding rating for local races). I plan to take part in coastal and offshore races, say, from Valencia to Ibiza (90 miles) and similar.
How is performing your 409 in the races you are participating?
Juan Luis

[mred25234]

If the wind is over 10 knots we do very well.