First Pictures of 59er with trapeze

This is a short piece I wrote on another thread.

Report on sailing the 59er with trapeze

I've been out a few times now with the trapeze and can now give a better opinion of how it goes fitted with this option. I am using 505s as a yardstick because they are the closest performing boat that we sail against.

Upwind performance

In light conditions obviously no change in performance! In medium conditions, when the trapeze is being used most but not all the time (around 10-13knots) we go much better against the 505s. Previously they put a crew member on the trapeze and sailed away from us in the puffs. I would say we are now about the same or maybe marginally slower in these conditions. In fresher conditions, on trapeze all the time and depowering (15-18 knots) the boat comes alive!! Much more fun than the hiking version of the 59er. In these conditions we go past all but the really well sailed 505s and as we get better I think we will go past them. It needs to be sailed lower and faster than the hiking version and we are still working on getting it into the right groove. The crew needs to work the main more than before and you luff less in puffs and just ease a little more and go faster.

Downwind

Light conditions - no change. Medium conditions (10-13 knots) probably the most surprising change in performance. We absolutely fly past the 505s lower and faster. Previously we were faster but sailed higher. The spinnaker is actually cut too full for the boat in these conditions as we have found that we need to slow down sometimes as we are sailing too high on the apparent wind for the spinnaker to cope. Fresher conditions (15 - 18 knots) not as much change. We are still faster than the 505s but not by as much as when it is lighter. We have fitted foot loops on the back of the boat so the crew doesn't go for a ride around the forestay.

Pluses

Much more fun upwind.

Makes it much more than just a light wind flyer

Minuses

Spinnaker cut a little too full for the new configuration.

After sailing it a few more times in the new configuration the main comment I would make is that on open water where I sail it makes it easier to sail!

We still don't always negotiate the corners though as you can see.