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Newbie: windvane / autopilot question

solosailor said:
That would be a great objective but with one caveat, for twin-jibs, not a spinnaker. I don't know of a boat that doesn't require some active trimming of the spinnaker in 25k+ of wind, especially in anything other than flat water. To have an AP handle a spinnaker in breeze with no intervention requires a much reduced spinnaker size or more preferably a spin with a bolt-rope luff to keep from collapsing which is what all those RTW boats use.
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Depends on the boat... a Cal 40 has a short rig and longish keel (ie it resists rapid turns) and with a decent autopilot will go all day and night in 25k with the chute up (and a quartering sea). Being able to sleep in these conditions is the hardest part. Now when it gets much above 25k of wind... yes a shy kite will keep the AP working... at 28k its time to drop the chute (at least with a moderate cost AP setup on a stable boat). Now how those southern ocean racers keep chutes up in the 30K+ range... god only knows. :-)
 
Now how those southern ocean racers keep chutes up in the 30K+ range... god only knows. :-)
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They don't really fly spinnakers anymore on Open 60s. They are more like gennakers that won't collapse like regular running spinnaker cloth.
 
Quick post as I read above… wrt Monitors at Blue Pelican. I was there last weekend (or about) and met an ex-SSS sailor dropping off an old Monitor. You might want to call, apparently they go pretty fast.
 
Many thanks! As it happens, I made the call for a Hydrovane, and am in the process of installing. Decision had more to do with my boat than with any concern re: Monitor's -- I have some oddities with my steering that led me toward something that did not depend on connecting to the wheel. I'll post once I have enough experience with it to have anything worth saying. All advice here has been very much appreciated!
 
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