My New Boat

[Flyer]

1981 Pearson Flyer 30. 16 horse Yanmar. I delivered her from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami last Friday. Not much more than 3 hours under main alone. This boat lives up to her name.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Richard,
A real beauty. Why under main alone?
Kind Regards,
JohnL

[Flyer]

Aloha John,
Why main alone? Cause I'm a glutton for weather helm. I brought the jib on deck but decided against it for several reasons. 1) we were making good progress, 2) I didn't want to overstress the (untested by me) rig or my neophyte crew, 3) It was blowing good and it had a squally look out.

It was ever so tempting though cause we could have dropped in and done much better surfing. Still a fun ride cause the boat really moves and is mine.

In hindsight it may have been an easier ride with just the big genoa alone. Just not as fast.

[Ex-Calif]

Looks like you have one photo above with the Jenny out.

Looks like a lot of fun.

I can attest to the "test the rigging" idea. We lost a lower shroud last week and almost lost the mast.

I have convinced my partner to replace all the chain plates and all the blocks and pulleys.

I am now in the if you see any corrosion or have any doubts replace it camp. You'll sleep better. Actually you'll feel more confident pulling hard on a close haul.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Richard,
It wasn't criticism. I was just wondering. I like to experiment with rigging different sails on different boats to see how they perform. Some boats will sail really well with just a main or just a genny but most perform better with both. Fin keelers usually balance better with some headsail. A full keeler seems to sail about the same no matter what just faster with more sail up.
JohnL

[Flyer]

Aloha John,

The boat has a ~3/4 fractional rig and sails well with main alone. Just like the J24 that my Dad & I used to race and singlehand. The reefed main and working jib would have been fast with better balance, but I refrained from guilding the lilly, due to the fact that my crew was easily spooked and at moments close to terror.

[senormechanico]

Gybing downwind would be faster as well as a nicer ride, not to mention less wear on the main because it's not pasted to the rig. Also, the mainsheet takes some of the strain off the backstay. Just a thought.

[Flyer]

It was a series of chicken gybes. Just the jenny would have made better sense. But there I was wanting to pump the mainsheet to surf.

[Flyer]

I turned down a buyer for my boat and will try to dress her up as best I can and enjoy.