42 DS - First Sailing Impressions

[zzmeyer]

We sailed about 20 miles Friday and Saturday. On Friday we had a short sail from the dealer to SDYC, a couple of miles in 10-12 knots true wind. My dealer experience was wonderful, but more on that later. A close reach gave us 7.5 knots and a very stable sail. With the wide stern and twin wheels the view was awesome. Very easy to see sail trim or traffic. When the main unrolled (I got the roller furling main), it looked a bit wimpy having been used to a fully battened main, but don’t let that fool you. As a true fractional rig there is lots of room for a big main. In fact, the main at 409 square feet is larger than that of the 49ds (403 square feet).

On Saturday we sailed in 12 to 19 knots true wind. We beam reached for a while, touching 8.5 knots. Turning dead down wind, we searched out victims to race against. One first notices that you can’t let the boom out as far as you are probably used to due to the swept back spreaders, but jibing downwind through about 80 degrees was the fasted way from here to there anyway. I had not yet rigged my gennaker. We came upon a new Beneteau 473, a beautiful boat I had also considered. They scrambled into attack mode as we crossed just in front of her and we battled downwind for a couple miles until she was so far behind it was no longer fun. Three possibilities: The 42ds is much faster, they sailed poorly, or we sailed marvelously. I pick one and three.

Coming back up we were hard on the wind. We had loosened halyard tension and outhaul going downwind and I didn’t tighten the main hard enough for the 15-18 knot beat. Twice we rounded up uncontrolled with very little warning. Despite the smallish wheel, pressure was never that great to give much warning. We should have tightened the outhaul (flatter lower main), more main halyard tension to bring the draft forward, and allowed some twist up high, or reefed. That is, I didn’t trim the main well with awkward consequences. We came across a Hunter 37 that appeared to be well sailed. We pointed higher and were faster and sailed over here and off to victory.

With only two of us on board, combined with us playing with all the cool electronics, we were unable to test motoring performance (we sailed once we left the marina), and other stuff. We backed into our new slip with ease despite a strong crosswind. A very good backing boat with the standard prop.

Sunday there never was any wind, so I set up the gennaker in the slip and puttered. First weekend impressions were fantastic!

[mdrsailman]

Dear Steve,

Best of luck with your new boat. Any problems yet?
What was your dealer experience

[MalcolmP]

Steve

Jeanneau really seem to have thought most things through, I like the fraction rig and interesting that they are using expensive Selden Spars. Also they have heeded the comments and fitted a full width mainsheet track on the coachroof again with good Harken kit

The new SO39DS looks very similar minus the glorious aft state room

Keep the feedback coming

Malcolm

[zzmeyer]

You are right. There is little I'd change. All 12 control lines lead to the cabin top, were well marked and properlly sized to the function. Only two issues I had were the rather abrupt round up in a breeze (pilot error), and what most people will find is a lack of sufficient ventilation in the main cabin - there is one small port in the galley and the overhead hatch can only open a couple inches due to the boom vang. - Steve

[mdrsailman]

Improve Traveller!

The standard Traveller Control line configuration is a 3:1 purchase.

By changing out the existing shackle or Stand-UpToggle on the car, to a Harken 598 [page 131 of 2006 catalog], you could add a 57mm Carbo single block
to each side of the Toggle. [part # 2600 page 50 - order 2]
There should be a horizontal screw with a becket in it, at the outboard extremity, on the top of the Control Ends [Port & Starboard] to which you can attach an eye splice.

The new longer control line would now "dead-end " on this becket on the Control Ends ends

of the Traveller, and lead firstly to the new 57mm Carbo block attached to the "ear" of the new stand-up toggle, then reeve in a similar fashion to that of the current arrangement on each side.

This would improve the advantage by 25% to 4:1, utilizing existing componentry which I understand, Jeanneau are not willing to change at the factory.

Alternatively, you could remove the existing Control Ends, and replace with ones that slide on top of the track, and fasten into the track.
This would require access to the fasteners if they are through bolted - via the headliner - which looks like a major undertaking.
It would also require replacement of the existing shackle or Stand-Up Toggle to that mentioned above, and attaching a pair of Carbo 57mm double blocks on the "ears" on each side of the toggle.

If you or the customer choose to go this latter route, please let me know & I can give you the part numbers.

In looking at the boat for other quick means of reducing friction, the only potential area I see is the sheave in the forward end of the boom for the Furling Outhaul line - if it is a plain journal sheave, [wheel & axel] a sheave with some kind of bearing system would be an improvement. [ I believe it is a 14mm pin - which we don't make - maybe consult Charleston Spar if it is a Sparcraft Blue Label spar.]