[Rhodes22-list] Thoughts on motor-sailing

[Michael D. Weisner]

John,

I think you just discovered the latest energy saving craze - hybrid 
boating!!  Now, if we just automated it a bit, the motor could start 
automatically to fill in for the wind.  Maybe we could use one of those 
electric trolling motors that were being discussed a while back instead of 
the outboard as an assist.  We could even use solar electric power and 
regenerative braking with such a setup!!

Naw, nevermind.  I still just like sailing, even when there's no wind. 
That's when it is time to put up the bimini (or anchor shade) and just kick 
back and have a pint, swig or whatever.

Mike
s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
Nissequogue River, NY


From: "John Lock" <jlock at relevantarts.com> Tuesday, June 19, 2007 5:07 PM
> Until this past weekend, I was a purist - If there was wind, I
> sailed.  If there was not, I motored (or didn't go out at all).  But
> we're settling into a summertime pattern here in the south where
> there's just not going to be much wind most of the time.
>
> This past weekend, we had a beautiful weekend to sail, other than the
> lack of wind.  So we headed out anyway, determined to make a day of
> it no matter what.  Mostly winds were less than 5, if the air moved
> at all.  But I hoisted ever square inch of sail we had and try to
> catch some of it.
>
> When we got a puff, the sails filled and we'd move a little
> bit.  Then we'd sit and rock on the boat wakes waiting for the next
> puff, the GPS stubbornly reporting 0kts.  I finally said "screw
> this!" and started the motor.
>
> As often happens when out on the water, I discovered something very
> pleasant.  If I kept the motor throttled back, only making 3kts or
> so, it was just enough to keep the sails filled.  When the wind did
> return, I could feel the boat heel and I'd kick the motor into
> neutral.  The sails were already shaped to catch the slight
> breeze.  Fabulous!  If the puff held long enough, I'd cut the motor
> altogether and use sail power for as long as it lasted.  When it
> quit, one pull on the starter rope kept us going.
>
> It was a great feeling to know that I wouldn't be relegated to the
> power boat all summer whenever we wanted to go out and about.  By
> using just the right combination of power and sail, I could still
> maintain the illusion sailing, even if it wasn't a pure experience. ;-)
>
> Cheers!
>
> John Lock
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> s/v Pandion - '79 Rhodes 22
> Lake Sinclair, GA
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
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