speed at sea


 As a displacement hull SELKIE'S maximum spred, or hill speed, can be calculated at below 5 & a half knots. That is if we assume a waterline length of 16 ft. 

The hull speed can also be worked out using the formula: 
S (knots) = 1.36x√LWL(ft)
S = 1.36x4
S = 5.44 knots


This is a guide only, higher speeds can be achieved in disturbed seas in fair conditions. Apparently, hull speed is the speed of the vessel creates a bow wave equal to its waterline length. Obviously the boat is not magically arrested at this speed, waves disturbances are established to make higher speeds less attainable. 
Skipper Dan Turner, & several other competitors in the Mini Globe Race have reported top speeds of over 14knots. These speeds were peak speeds as the boat surfed downwind or on a beam reach. At only 25' LOD, the mini could not maintain this speed & them fell off the back of each wave & settling to 4 knots. Nevertheless, a handful of the dozen or so competitors averaged over 5knots for their TransAtlantic runs. 
Its worth mentioning, that several Minis were knocked flat while overcanvassed in lively conditions. Apparently, unique to the Mini Design, they get wobbly in the stern in heavy following conditions. 
For me, the risk of knockdown,  loss of deck gear & flooding below, is not worth the small reward of extra speed. So we'll be reefing down & if necessary towing warps in order to reduce speed & maintain steerage in lively following conditions.  

Its all fun till the bilge is full.
   

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

a skin thing?

As a surfer from my childhood years I escalated to surfing most days. If i wasn't surfing I was just going on or out of the surf, or at school or in latter yesrs work. Some school days would see me run home from the beach dripping wet, stuff cereal down & jog to school. At lunch break I would grab a bike & get a surf in.  On my twenties i took up sailing. If I wasn't actually sailing I would be working on my boat getting things ready. I spent two enjoyable winters on the tropical north.  In later life, I've mowed lawns for an income & continued to swim & sail when I can.  As old surfers know, there's a toll on your skin. Some surfers I know have died or been treated for skin cancer, so it's a vocational hazard.  Added to this, I have a genetic weakness towards skin cancer. My great grandmother passed in midlife & her daughter, my grandmother, had several skin grafts on her nose to manage skin cancer.  Last month my younger brother Pete had a ...
Read more

the american dilemma

Image
Ever willing to criticise  The Pres with the Snake Eyes When he calls out "Fake News!". The media lead a people's chorus of boos.   The same singers when at home Before the neon god they lay prone Soaking up bullshit ads & sculpted boobs Glitzy endless crap on the tube.
Read more

mass political deception

Image
On the day a gunman nicked ex president Trump's ear the world politcians decried violence as evil, undemocratic & so on, more than 39 people were killed in Palestine. These events highlight mass hypocrisy across the world with regards violence & race.  No one in the media industry will ever mention this hypocrisy.
Read more