J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Smack J/30 Sailors on Multi-hulls

What do J/30 sailors do as they "gracefully age" and spend winter time in sunny FL? Besides sailing their J/30s year round, they try out some multi-hull sailing....




Here is the message I received from Vic - Vee Jay #505 & Vee Jay 2 #526

great sea trial ...
just minor problem coming into the dock after we dropped sails, raised the amas and started to go back into marina slip.
Boat capsized. Duh ... Manufacturer claims it "can't happen" ... stray puff of heavy wind

Vic and Dave picked up from water as we dived off to get out of way of the boat crashing down on us. But the water was too shallow to turtle, Tor and Keith managed to climb to high side ...

Water within 2 in. of open companionway but didn't slop in ... camera bag remained dry.

tow boat pulled sideways ... freed top of mast out of mud and finally popped it up right again ...

we had 1 fire/rescue boat, Sea Tow, Tow Boat US, and harbor master help us.

Next time i will wear swim trunks ... 100% cotton doesn't dry fast enough.

Ron at dock got photos of boat in water ... will forward when I get a copy.

end of report ... just another day for the old guys here in Naples.

F31 Sea Trial crew
Dave - Vee Jay coach; Keith - new owner F31 #208; Vic; and Tor, trainee foredeck Vee Jay



"We are determined to go back and get this capsize thing timed a bit better -- More like what we would do on a J24 ... walk out on the dagger board and pop the mast right back up"

Sea Bird really does fly up over 18 kts when trimmed right in decent wind and ~2 ft waves.

Note to Bill ... the dagger board has a harmonic ~16 kts ala new J30 rudder at 6. will need to be tuned, but it is more like a cat purr.

The new F31 owner may have taken this designer claim a bit to broadly.

"""The unique Farrier Folding System® also provides 'take-it-anywhere' trailerability, and the ability to use any marina dock. It has forever eliminated the old problem of what to do with a super wide trimaram



Folding can be done just about anywhere, even while motoring in a chop.""" From http://www.f-boat.com

I don't know who said that a capsize while folded can't happen, as that is not true, and the risk of this is clearly warned about, and fully covered in the F-31 Sailing Manual.

It is a rare occurrence, but stability while folded is limited, particularly with the larger F-boats with taller racing rigs, and usual cause is a fast tight turn while folded. It is also worth mentioning that since the original launching of my first folding trimaran in 1974, it was 16 years before anyone managed to roll one over while folded (during a fast sharp turn in 25 knots).

A folded capsize could also be possible with a strong sideways gust, but these have been extremely rare, and usually only in gale force conditions. Usual precaution in such conditions is to always leave one side extended until about to go on the trailer, and if to be left in a marina dock in gale force winds from the side, then the mast should be lowered or at least tied off to each side in some way.

The bigger boats such as the F-31 are more susceptible to a folded roll over than the smaller ones, as even though much bigger, they still only have the same folded beam of just over 8', with a much taller and heavier mast, so extra care has to be taken. In this regard the F-31 also has a secondary wider folded position of 9' 6", as described on Page 10 the Sailing Manual, which makes it more stable while folded, and this should always be used when motoring folded for any distance, or in very gusty conditions.

One can also fold in choppy conditions as stated - the main reason for this statement being to demonstrate the strength of the folding system, and no one has ever managed to damage it in this way. However, one still has to be careful of fast tight turns, gusty side winds, and obviously it would not be a good idea to be side on while folded in large waves. The stability while folded is limited, and there is just no need to take such risks, as folding is usually only necessary inside harbors etc.

Pleased to hear the 18 knots while sailing was enjoyed however!

Also, if you do not have a Sailing Manual then Farrier Marine's Sailing Manual (covers all models) can be downloaded from:

http://www.farriermarine.com/pdf/SailingManual2008.pdf

The daggerboard hum can be fixed by some work on the trailing edge - also covered in the Sailing Manual.

Ian Farrier
Farrier Marine
www.f-boat.com

Vic, next time you want to practice capsizing you should go somewhere where there are no cameras or witnesses