Re: Micro on the high seas
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "queeqeg87" <queeqeg87@y...> wrote:
who has sailed his boat through the "BackStairs Passage" across to
PortLincoln and then up Spencers Gulf. (For all readers in the
Northern Hemisphere Goto a Map of Australia, find the state of South
Australia, find the Capital, Adelaide, and then go south of the
capital to Kangaroo Island and you will be in the general
vicinity.) Winds and seas come straight of the Southern ocean.
Roger is a fine sailor and I have spoken to him of his exploits. He
does not have a motor on his Micro. He has a reefing system that
allows him to reef from the cockpit and he has strengthened the hull
with many internal oregon beams etc. His exploits speak volumes for
the seakeeping ability of the Micro and his seamanship. Personally
I would not do it.
Another sailor Daimer Rohm sails his Micro off the coast of New
South Wales in the Tasman sea, but his voyages are usually only one
day exploits.
I have been sailing my Micro on Sydney Harbour for two years and I
am in the process "teaching" myself how to sail. I used to sail a
laser many years ago, but obviously the Micro is a different
proposition.
I had initially been dissappointed with the ability of the Micro to
go to windward, but now realise that most of this was due to my lack
of experience as a sailor and with the flukey conditions on Sydney
Harbour.
As Roger keyes says "John, Micro is a cruising boat and will never
point as well as a plastic go fast money eating racing yatch".
However take today's experience on the Harbour (5 - 10 Knots) clear
blue skies beating up to the Harbour Bridge with hands off sailing
as Micro steered herself in between tacks. Sure the flat bottom
slams a bit, but keep her heeled and this is not a problem. I think
that this must be the most relaxed sailing that anyone can do and
apart from an occasional burst of spray over the bow, I remain dry.
What other 15' boats offer this luxury.
When the wind is between 10 - 15 knots, I think think that the micro
is in her element. She seems to rocket along and the sailing is
still relaxed.
Above this wind range and I reef and I find that the boat does not
seem to point as well, but I am learning a lot more about adjusting
the shape of the sail for optimum performance. I need to redo the
Tack attachment at the foot of the mast to hold the tack closer to
the mast to give better shape and I have also noticed that I am not
getting full purchase on the snotter which has caused a "sloppy"
luff when I am on the tack where the sail rests on the sprit boom.
As you can see, for a "mug" beginner like me there's plenty to
learn, but the thing I like about the Micro is than you can "tinker"
and adjust to your heart's content and experiment (without altering
the designer's original concept).
The key issue for you to address is what you mean by "performance".
If you want a high pointing, sleek, fast, racing machine, Micro is
not for you. If you want low cost, elegantly simple rig, easily
singlehanded (or take out a crowd)and impecabble manners in most
conditions build yourself a Micro. If you are not a good sailor
like me, she will not embaress you,
Regards,
John Mann (Sydney Australia)
I realize that the Micro is in no way a blue water sailboat, but I
> I know of two people in Australia who sail their boats on the searather than closed waters. One is Roger Keyes in South Australia
who has sailed his boat through the "BackStairs Passage" across to
PortLincoln and then up Spencers Gulf. (For all readers in the
Northern Hemisphere Goto a Map of Australia, find the state of South
Australia, find the Capital, Adelaide, and then go south of the
capital to Kangaroo Island and you will be in the general
vicinity.) Winds and seas come straight of the Southern ocean.
Roger is a fine sailor and I have spoken to him of his exploits. He
does not have a motor on his Micro. He has a reefing system that
allows him to reef from the cockpit and he has strengthened the hull
with many internal oregon beams etc. His exploits speak volumes for
the seakeeping ability of the Micro and his seamanship. Personally
I would not do it.
Another sailor Daimer Rohm sails his Micro off the coast of New
South Wales in the Tasman sea, but his voyages are usually only one
day exploits.
I have been sailing my Micro on Sydney Harbour for two years and I
am in the process "teaching" myself how to sail. I used to sail a
laser many years ago, but obviously the Micro is a different
proposition.
I had initially been dissappointed with the ability of the Micro to
go to windward, but now realise that most of this was due to my lack
of experience as a sailor and with the flukey conditions on Sydney
Harbour.
As Roger keyes says "John, Micro is a cruising boat and will never
point as well as a plastic go fast money eating racing yatch".
However take today's experience on the Harbour (5 - 10 Knots) clear
blue skies beating up to the Harbour Bridge with hands off sailing
as Micro steered herself in between tacks. Sure the flat bottom
slams a bit, but keep her heeled and this is not a problem. I think
that this must be the most relaxed sailing that anyone can do and
apart from an occasional burst of spray over the bow, I remain dry.
What other 15' boats offer this luxury.
When the wind is between 10 - 15 knots, I think think that the micro
is in her element. She seems to rocket along and the sailing is
still relaxed.
Above this wind range and I reef and I find that the boat does not
seem to point as well, but I am learning a lot more about adjusting
the shape of the sail for optimum performance. I need to redo the
Tack attachment at the foot of the mast to hold the tack closer to
the mast to give better shape and I have also noticed that I am not
getting full purchase on the snotter which has caused a "sloppy"
luff when I am on the tack where the sail rests on the sprit boom.
As you can see, for a "mug" beginner like me there's plenty to
learn, but the thing I like about the Micro is than you can "tinker"
and adjust to your heart's content and experiment (without altering
the designer's original concept).
The key issue for you to address is what you mean by "performance".
If you want a high pointing, sleek, fast, racing machine, Micro is
not for you. If you want low cost, elegantly simple rig, easily
singlehanded (or take out a crowd)and impecabble manners in most
conditions build yourself a Micro. If you are not a good sailor
like me, she will not embaress you,
Regards,
John Mann (Sydney Australia)
I realize that the Micro is in no way a blue water sailboat, but I
> wonder how far the envelope has been pushed and what theconflicting
> experience was like?
> P.S. I'm considering building a Micro, but I have heard
> statements made about the performance of flat-bottom boats.
Does anyone know if the sculptor who built three Micros ever sailed
them "unmanned" across the Atlantic, or not?
And whether or not any of them actually made it?
Bruce Hector
them "unmanned" across the Atlantic, or not?
And whether or not any of them actually made it?
Bruce Hector
I realize that the Micro is in no way a blue water sailboat, but I
wonder how far the envelope has been pushed and what the
experience was like?
P.S. I'm considering building a Micro, but I have heard conflicting
statements made about the performance of flat-bottom boats.
wonder how far the envelope has been pushed and what the
experience was like?
P.S. I'm considering building a Micro, but I have heard conflicting
statements made about the performance of flat-bottom boats.