[MHml] DynaRig, Mast-Aft, Bi-Plane sailing rigs

[brian eiland]

Brian noted: BTW that was a full atlantic crossing at speed and no problems
with the rig 

May 9, 2007
A FAST PASSAGE FOR THE FALCON
 
The Falcon arrived Back in La Spezia after a fast, 15 day, passage from St
Martin. The wind was complicated by a lingering low near the usual Azores
high, and daily updates were used from Met-France, which we found to be
extremely accurate. We also used the SeaTech route planning software, which
incorporates the yacht's polar curves, into the projected weather, plotting
the best route to follow in sailing. This program was very useful and
impressive.

The weather ranged from dead flat calm, through which we motored at around 13
knots, to two periods of strong winds in the Atlantic of force seven and
eight, through which we sailed at 18 to 20 knots. As we had good favorable
wind through Gibraltar, we didn't stop, and sailed directly to Italy,
encountering a force nine and ten gale in the Golfe du Lion. In the past
twenty years I have never been in this part of the Med without encountering
such a mistral. With only our lower tops set, we never-the-less held our
sailing speed to 17--18 knots---faster speeds are, of course, possible but
it's uncomfortable in the short period waves for which the region is
notorious.

And so, in less than a year from our departure from Istanbul, and with 21
thousand nautical miles under our belts, we are back for a couple of weeks in
the yard before we begin our Summer season in the Med. I am happy to report
that the DynaRig (FalconRig) has performed flawlessly, and no servicing of its
sails or systems is on our work list. 


In the recent passage, Christian only went aloft once to check a
connection---there were no actual problems.