Month: December 2010

Sailing Tips from an AE28 Veteran

Posted on by Peter Johnstone

The most critical thing to remember when sailing an Alerion upwind is that you are trimming four foils. What you do with the sails affects the angle of attack of the keel by either increasing or decreasing leeway. Sail trim also affects the amount of helm on the rudder when sailing upwind. You always want to sail the boat upwind with minimal helm. Use your tiller extension, even if you are sitting in the cockpit. If you can’t easily steer the boat using two fingers on the extension, you have too much helm. The cramp in your fingers will be your first clue that you are not trimmed correctly. Here are a few basic tips:

1)     Probably the two most important strings on the boat are the backstay and the jib outhaul. The backstay allows you to control the power in the main. More backstay tension will yield a flatter and therefore less powerful main. If you have helm Pull in on the backstay! The jib outhaul allows you to control the twist of the jib and therefore the slot between the main and the jib.

2)     Never sail the boat upwind with the traveler centered. It should always be between 1/2 and 2/3 of the way down.  In lighter air it should be 2/3 down and the mainsheet relatively tighter in order to get the force vectors facing as far forward as possible.

3)     The aft end of the jib boom should never be inside the edge of the cabin top. If it is, you are guaranteed to sail slow. The slot needs to stay open to promote good air flow between the main and the jib. If you are carrying a big bubble in the main it could be because the main is too full, but more likely it is because you have the jib boom too far inboard and/or are carrying too much tension on the jib outhaul, thereby preventing the jib leach from twisting.

Ralf Morgan, Hull # 272

Sailing With Dolphins

Posted on by Peter Johnstone

Peter Primont, owner of Alerion 38 #17 lives his life driven by his passions.  When it was time to ignite his passion for sailing, this Long Island native new exactly where to turn.   Until 3 years ago, when Peter wasn’t managing his successful Music publishing business, he was spending his leisure time playing golf.  Since catching the sailing bug, he has yet to return to the golf course.  This past summer we had the pleasure of watching and supporting Peter and his wife, Sheila sail their Alerion Express 38, “Fancy Boy” in the Vineyard Cup.  His competence as a sailor was reflected in the race results.  He defeated a number of  fast sailboats to get sixth overall!  After the race, Peter and Sheila enjoyed a leisurely cruise back to their hometown in Manhasset, Long Island.  Peter emphasises that the single handed ease and large cockpit on the Alerion Express 38 compliments their lifestyle perfectly.  Having  the capability of sailing for an hour or cruising for a week on Long Island Sound is what enables him to pursue his passion for sailing.

 In addition to Peter’s delightful trip to the Vineyard last summer, his most memorable moment came rather unexpectedly.   Peter and Sheila were relaxing in their harbor in Larchmont, New York when they heard on the radio that a pod of dolphins had  surfaced nearby.  They quickly tossed off the mooring and sailed over to the location called out on the radio.  Upon arriving, they found themselves surrounded by more than 150 dolphins swimming and jumping out of the water as if they had always been there.  Those of you who are distantly familiar with the waters around New York City will agree that this is truly a rare sight!   Check out this short video.

 We wish Peter and Sheila more memorable experiences on the Alerion 38 and we’re looking forward to seeing them, as well as a few other 38 owners from New York at the 2011 Vineyard Cup.

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