Cal 29 character

Greets: Been reading about the 29 model and digging up lots of interesting data off the net. One aspect that I have very little information about is how she handles the rough stuff, ie: winds 20+knots and seas in excess of 10'. Was wondering what the experiences are of those who own the 29 under those conditions when staying in harbour is not an option..;) Best regards and thanks for any info -- /ch

Chris: I don't claim to be an expert, but I just made the post about my voyage from Seattle to LA in my Cal 29 this SEP and the trip is still fresh in my mind. We had wind in the 20-25 kt range 2 or 3 times and seas at about 8 ft from our quarter in the roughest times - the timing was as good as I could hope for the trip. We put 1 reef in when it piped up above 20 but never felt the need to add a 2nd under the conditions. The boat handled great. The watches were kind of long hanging on to the tiller and watching the compass to hold a course as we surfed down the swells & I watched the knot log go past 8 kts. It took a fair amount of concentration, but never felt hazardous. I've had 2 reefs in a few times while sailing in Puget Sound with winds 25-30 kts but seas were light. Though I don't ever wish for rough weather when I'm underway, those conditions weren't close to any limits I would impose on the boat. The other thing is that wind and seas can be so different; you can take quite a pounding in steep, choppy 6' seas with a short period on your beam and ride relatively smooth with a slow, rolly 12' sea on your stern. The wind can also be gusty and variable as opposed to steady and strong, which makes a difference. Anyway, in my Cal 29, when I hear about 20 kt winds and 10 ft seas, I don't worry about the safety of the boat, I just brace myself for an uncomfortable ride - as I would in any seaworthy boat. Rob Wyman 1970 Cal 29 Gypsy Bumboat San Pedro --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, Chris h <chris123@...> wrote: > > Greets: > > Been reading about the 29 model and digging up lots of interesting data off > the net. One aspect that I have very little information about is how she > handles the rough stuff, ie: winds 20+knots and seas in excess of 10'. Was > wondering what the experiences are of those who own the 29 under those > conditions when staying in harbour is not an option..;) > > Best regards and thanks for any info > -- > /ch >

My one experience this summer with some nasty weather showed that she handled beautifully. *I* was the nervous one! see: http://www.stuffandjunk.net/boatjournal/blog1.php/2008/06/22/cock-island-home --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, Chris h <chris123@...> wrote: > > Greets: > > Been reading about the 29 model and digging up lots of interesting data off > the net. One aspect that I have very little information about is how she > handles the rough stuff, ie: winds 20+knots and seas in excess of 10'. Was > wondering what the experiences are of those who own the 29 under those > conditions when staying in harbour is not an option..;) > > Best regards and thanks for any info > -- > /ch >

Hi Chris, You can ask anyone on this list or go back and check my posts. I really like this boat. My CAL 2-29 has taken me to Catalina Island on a average of 2 times a year for the last 10 years. That is 58 miles each way of 25 miles off the coast sailing. I replaced my rigging and she keeps me impressed. I race her now and she stays in the front. Right now she is second place in the TGIS series here in the Santa Barbra Channel. I sail her with my 13 year old son. I lived on her for 4 years and still carry around a lot of trash racers would never have on a boat. My only problem is, I have a slip that I can not get out of in 25 knts of wind blowing from the east thru the North west. The Martec folding prop will not pull it back into the winds without hitting my nieghbor. I have sailed her in light winds and kept up with the lighter boats and I have had her in 40 plus knots and kept up with the bigger boats. It is all sail area and keeping her under your feet. I also compete in the singlehanded fleet and looking at taking her to Hawaii in the 2012 or 2014 singlehanded TRANSPAC. (Funds being the factor.) She sails well to her rating. I am docked 3 seconds a mile for a oversized spinnaker. However, I still get my fair share of 1st. My previous rigger said he sailed a CAL 29 to Tahatii, Hawaii and this was the only boat that he sailed in 75 knts of wind that didn't get rolled. In 44 knt gusts with a number 1 up my only scare was I didn't have the luff thight enough, it shook my rigging and I have wooden spreaders. Well, I am still sailing her and she is very good to me. As I am retireing in a few years, I will most likely want to move up to a CAL 31 or a 33 ft boat, but that is because I want to backpack and kayak and that takes up more space than another person sailing with me. Consider the curent economy, I my just slap a coat of paint on this boat and do it anyway. I can get a folding kayak to do my exploring. The beam seems to be a issue, however, I do not shower inside mine or use the ice box, so no water sits on it. I race my boat so my anchor sits on the salon floor with chain and rode, so I don't get water in from the anchor locker. I have emailed a jent in Canada who sailed his CAL 29 to Tahatii and left it there and flew home. I can't remember his name now, but he did a lot of over kill on the rigging and the boat was better than he expected and was the best boat he ever owned. He recomended a few chages to the boat on his site but it was all over kill. I hope you join us and add your adventures and accomplishments. Randy CAL 2-29 Out Patient Channel Islands Ca --- On Sat, 11/22/08, Chris h <ch… [at] magma.ca> wrote: From: Chris h <ch… [at] magma.ca> Subject: [Cal_Boats] Cal 29 character To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Date: Saturday, November 22, 2008, 6:46 PM Greets: Been reading about the 29 model and digging up lots of interesting data off the net. One aspect that I have very little information about is how she handles the rough stuff, ie: winds 20+knots and seas in excess of 10'. Was wondering what the experiences are of those who own the 29 under those conditions when staying in harbour is not an option..;) Best regards and thanks for any info -- /ch

On Wednesday 26 November 2008 22:52:22 Randy Alcorn wrote: > Hi Chris, > > You can ask anyone on this list or go back and check my posts. I really > like this boat. OK will use the search function to track them down. > My CAL 2-29 has taken me to Catalina Island on a average of > 2 times a year for the last 10 years. That is 58 miles each way of 25 miles > off the coast sailing. <snipped all good stuff for brevity sake only> > I have emailed a jent in Canada who sailed his CAL 29 to Tahatii and left > it there and flew home. I can't remember his name now, That would be tp://www.user.dccnet.com/rdarcy/calstart.html out of British Columbia. > but he did a lot of > over kill on the rigging and the boat was better than he expected and was > the best boat he ever owned. He recomended a few chages to the boat on his > site but it was all over kill. > I hope you join us and add your adventures and accomplishments. Thank you for the kind words, taking the time to share your experiences, and the invitation. I hope to be on the water sooner then later. Best regards /ch