Cal 39 MK I Surfing

Hi, I was wondering as to whether or not the Cal 39 MK I (or the other 39' variants) will surf/plane easily, when going downwind, like the Cal 40 does? And also, what kinds of conditions it takes to get the boat to do so? Thanks

Almost all boats can surf. Planing is another thing altogether. > On Dec 24, 2014, at 7:09 PM, an… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: > > Hi, > > I was wondering as to whether or not the Cal 39 MK I (or the other 39' variants) will surf/plane easily, when going downwind, like the Cal 40 does? And also, what kinds of conditions it takes to get the boat to do so? > > > > Thanks > >

It taks some large following seas and wind from astern.... when the conditions are right, the boat will surf down the steep face of the swell/wave. It an be scary the first couple of times it happens, especially ifyou arent expecting it... When you are expecting it, it can be fun, but at other times it may be unwanted.. The first time it ever happend to me was when i was green to the sport with my first boat... i didnt even know surfing was possible. When it happened, it was all of a sudden and i could only think "what the hell is happening"... and i got scared and turned the tiller hard over to slow down... can we say "sudden broach"... it filled the cockpit with water, i got soaked and wasnt sure if i was sinking or what, and just when the boat stood back up, a gust of wind caught me and knocked the boat flat to the water on the other side.. which was just as violent as the broach but not as wet. so within about a 60 second period i experienced 3 of the scariest and most exhilerating experiences known to sailors... and not in a good way either... But It quickly builds charactor and experience... I think its a good thing to try to make it happen and get some experience with it before it happens accidentally when you arent expecting it...

Hi Andy, You should clarify if you are asking about surfing, something a surfboard can do, or planning, something a chris-craft can do. Allen On Thu, Dec 25, 2014 at 1:16 PM, ce… [at] rocketmail.com [Cal_Boats] < Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: > > > It taks some large following seas and wind from astern.... when the > conditions are right, the boat will surf down the steep face of the > swell/wave. > It an be scary the first couple of times it happens, especially ifyou > arent expecting it... > > When you are expecting it, it can be fun, but at other times it may be > unwanted.. > > The first time it ever happend to me was when i was green to the sport > with my first boat... i didnt even know surfing was possible. > When it happened, it was all of a sudden and i could only think "what the > hell is happening"... and i got scared and turned the tiller hard over to > slow down... can we say "sudden broach"... it filled the cockpit with > water, i got soaked and wasnt sure if i was sinking or what, and just when > the boat stood back up, a gust of wind caught me and knocked the boat flat > to the water on the other side.. which was just as violent as the broach > but not as wet. > > so within about a 60 second period i experienced 3 of the scariest and > most exhilerating experiences known to sailors... and not in a good way > either... > > But It quickly builds charactor and experience... > > I think its a good thing to try to make it happen and get some experience > with it before it happens accidentally when you arent expecting it... > >

The distinction between surfing and planing is kind of misleading. Planing is when a boat exceeds hull speed. Surfing is when one rides a wave to gain speed. You may or may not plane when surfing. If the boat exceeds hull speed(across the water), it is planing. Boats like Cals can exceed hull speed, but they typically need to be going down a steep wave w a strong breeze to do it. A surf board is planing when it is going down a wave, it is just using the energy of the wave to make it go fast. I have hit 12.5 knots in my Cal 29 w a large Asym spin surfing a wave. spray was coming from both sides of the boat, bow was in the air. does it stay there....no. Did it exceed hull speed...yes. Was it planing....yes. I have not sailed the 39, so I cannot speak to that boat, but I would think give it a big enough wave with enough wind and a Spinnaker, I would bet she would hop up for a while. Jim East Coast Cal 29 sailor. On Fri, Dec 26, 2014 at 1:11 AM, Allen Edwards al… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: > > > Hi Andy, > > You should clarify if you are asking about surfing, something a surfboard > can do, or planning, something a chris-craft can do. > > Allen > > On Thu, Dec 25, 2014 at 1:16 PM, ce… [at] rocketmail.com [Cal_Boats] < > Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: > >> >> >> It taks some large following seas and wind from astern.... when the >> conditions are right, the boat will surf down the steep face of the >> swell/wave. >> It an be scary the first couple of times it happens, especially ifyou >> arent expecting it... >> >> When you are expecting it, it can be fun, but at other times it may be >> unwanted.. >> >> The first time it ever happend to me was when i was green to the sport >> with my first boat... i didnt even know surfing was possible. >> When it happened, it was all of a sudden and i could only think "what the >> hell is happening"... and i got scared and turned the tiller hard over to >> slow down... can we say "sudden broach"... it filled the cockpit with >> water, i got soaked and wasnt sure if i was sinking or what, and just when >> the boat stood back up, a gust of wind caught me and knocked the boat flat >> to the water on the other side.. which was just as violent as the broach >> but not as wet. >> >> so within about a 60 second period i experienced 3 of the scariest and >> most exhilerating experiences known to sailors... and not in a good way >> either... >> >> But It quickly builds charactor and experience... >> >> I think its a good thing to try to make it happen and get some experience >> with it before it happens accidentally when you arent expecting it... >> > > >

If this works for you; Cal Gal sailing over 10 knots for a while… top speed was reported 21.5knots, this video is in the mid-teens at the end https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=800080836702928 <https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=800080836702928&set=vb.502947713082910&type=2&theater> &set=vb.502947713082910&type=2&theater We incorrectly or correctly call it a surf when the boat breaks loose and goes well past hull speed as at the end of the video….. powering through waves at more than hull speed as in the first part of the video must be the planning. dEmO From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] Sent: Friday, December 26, 2014 8:45 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Re: Cal 39 MK I Surfing The distinction between surfing and planing is kind of misleading. Planing is when a boat exceeds hull speed. Surfing is when one rides a wave to gain speed. You may or may not plane when surfing. If the boat exceeds hull speed(across the water), it is planing. Boats like Cals can exceed hull speed, but they typically need to be going down a steep wave w a strong breeze to do it. A surf board is planing when it is going down a wave, it is just using the energy of the wave to make it go fast. I have hit 12.5 knots in my Cal 29 w a large Asym spin surfing a wave. spray was coming from both sides of the boat, bow was in the air. does it stay there....no. Did it exceed hull speed...yes. Was it planing....yes. I have not sailed the 39, so I cannot speak to that boat, but I would think give it a big enough wave with enough wind and a Spinnaker, I would bet she would hop up for a while. Jim East Coast Cal 29 sailor. On Fri, Dec 26, 2014 at 1:11 AM, Allen Edwards al… [at] gmail.com <mailto:al… [at] gmail.com> [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com <mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> > wrote: Hi Andy, You should clarify if you are asking about surfing, something a surfboard can do, or planning, something a chris-craft can do. Allen On Thu, Dec 25, 2014 at 1:16 PM, ce… [at] rocketmail.com <mailto:ce… [at] rocketmail.com> [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com <mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> > wrote: It taks some large following seas and wind from astern.... when the conditions are right, the boat will surf down the steep face of the swell/wave. It an be scary the first couple of times it happens, especially ifyou arent expecting it... When you are expecting it, it can be fun, but at other times it may be unwanted.. The first time it ever happend to me was when i was green to the sport with my first boat... i didnt even know surfing was possible. When it happened, it was all of a sudden and i could only think "what the hell is happening"... and i got scared and turned the tiller hard over to slow down... can we say "sudden broach"... it filled the cockpit with water, i got soaked and wasnt sure if i was sinking or what, and just when the boat stood back up, a gust of wind caught me and knocked the boat flat to the water on the other side.. which was just as violent as the broach but not as wet. so within about a 60 second period i experienced 3 of the scariest and most exhilerating experiences known to sailors... and not in a good way either... But It quickly builds charactor and experience... I think its a good thing to try to make it happen and get some experience with it before it happens accidentally when you arent expecting it...

I've had my Cal 24 up to 14+ knots in very strong Spring northerlies going to a CalClubChampagneCaperConclave at Howand's Landing some years ago, reefed main, with a #3 on a broad reach with the lee rail buried, in at least 25-30 knots of breeze.One year we won the Channel Islands to Marina del Rey Race, and were hitting consistent twelves in nearly as strong conditions. We were trailing in the wake of a Catalina 27 also going hell bent for leather, with the jib poled out, when the main did an uncontrolled jibe, leaving both sails on the same port side. So I headed up a bit and went flying passed him. It was like flooring my Dad's Oldsmobile, downshifting and leaving a line of cars in the dust, er..uh..wake. Vick, the skipper of the Catalina, said my hull was completely out of the water with just the keel visible. We kept catching rides like that, like riding a boogie board from a wave crest all the way onto the beach, for 100 to 200 yards at a time. Wooowee! We were even keeping pace with a Cal 46 that was 1/4 windward of us, and this was 30 miles into a 42 mile race, who started at the same time. One of the best races I ever done. I'd say we were both planing and surfing, since my hull speed is shy of six knots. Jerry of Shpritz, ye olde Cal 24.Oh yes, Happy Holidays ya-all!! On Friday, December 26, 2014 9:34 PM, "ti… [at] danishmarineco.com [Cal_Boats]" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: If this works for you; Cal Gal sailing over 10 knots for a while… top speed was reported 21.5knots, this video is in the mid-teens at the end https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=800080836702928&set=vb.502947713082910&type=2&theater We incorrectly or correctly call it a surf when the boat breaks loose and goes well past hull speed as at the end of the video….. powering through waves at more than hull speed as in the first part of the video must be the planning. dEmO From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] Sent: Friday, December 26, 2014 8:45 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Re: Cal 39 MK I Surfing The distinction between surfing and planing is kind of misleading. Planing is when a boat exceeds hull speed. Surfing is when one rides a wave to gain speed. You may or may not plane when surfing. If the boat exceeds hull speed(across the water), it is planing. Boats like Cals can exceed hull speed, but they typically need to be going down a steep wave w a strong breeze to do it. A surf board is planing when it is going down a wave, it is just using the energy of the wave to make it go fast. I have hit 12.5 knots in my Cal 29 w a large Asym spin surfing a wave. spray was coming from both sides of the boat, bow was in the air.does it stay there....no. Did it exceed hull speed...yes. Was it planing....yes. I have not sailed the 39, so I cannot speak to that boat, but I would think give it a big enough wave with enough wind and a Spinnaker, I would bet she would hop up for a while. JimEast Coast Cal 29 sailor. On Fri, Dec 26, 2014 at 1:11 AM, Allen Edwards al… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: Hi Andy, You should clarify if you are asking about surfing, something a surfboard can do, or planning, something a chris-craft can do. Allen On Thu, Dec 25, 2014 at 1:16 PM, ce… [at] rocketmail.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: It taks some large following seas and wind from astern.... when the conditions are right, the boat will surf down the steep face of the swell/wave. It an be scary the first couple of times it happens, especially ifyou arent expecting it... When you are expecting it, it can be fun, but at other times it may be unwanted.. The first time it ever happend to me was when i was green to the sport with my first boat... i didnt even know surfing was possible. When it happened, it was all of a sudden and i could only think "what the hell is happening"... and i got scared and turned the tiller hard over to slow down... can we say "sudden broach"... it filled the cockpit with water, i got soaked and wasnt sure if i was sinking or what, and just when the boat stood back up, a gust of wind caught me and knocked the boat flat to the water on the other side.. which was just as violent as the broach but not as wet. so within about a 60 second period i experienced 3 of the scariest and most exhilerating experiences known to sailors... and not in a good way either... But It quickly builds charactor and experience... I think its a good thing to try to make it happen and get some experience with it before it happens accidentally when you arent expecting it...

Don't know about plaining but the 39 does surf. Have had a few experiences with surfing. Sailing down wind with poled out Genoa and following sea. Great fun. 15+ kts if speedo is to be believed. Spray flying. Gotta love it. Regards, Wayne > On Dec 24, 2014, at 7:09 PM, an… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: > > Hi, > > I was wondering as to whether or not the Cal 39 MK I (or the other 39' variants) will surf/plane easily, when going downwind, like the Cal 40 does? And also, what kinds of conditions it takes to get the boat to do so? > > > > Thanks > >

On 12/25/2014 4:16 PM, ce… [at] rocketmail.com [Cal_Boats] wrote: > It taks some large following seas and wind from astern.... when the conditions are right, the boat will surf down the steep face of the swell/wave. > It an be scary the first couple of times it happens, especially ifyou arent expecting it... > > When you are expecting it, it can be fun, but at other times it may be unwanted.. > > The first time it ever happend to me was when i was green to the sport with my first boat... i didnt even know surfing was possible. > When it happened, it was all of a sudden and i could only think "what the hell is happening"... and i got scared and turned the tiller hard over to slow down... can we say "sudden broach"... I had a similar experience in my sea kayak. I was out playing in big waves and had turned around to head back downwind. "Hey, I can surf." After a few waves I also discovered "Hey, I can broach." It led to the first half of the Eskimo roll, the only portion I have mastered. Happened very quickly. Problem was, it was Feb. or March on the Great Lakes and the water was COLD. (So was the air). Luckily, I was wearing the wetsuit, and equally luckily, it works. I remember thinking as I was going over, "Oh shit, I'm one of those guys you read about in the newspaper." But I made it to shore and then had to hitchhike back to my truck--dripping wet, by the side of the highway in the winter. It's a wonder anybody stopped. Chris Campbell