J Boats

Now it's possible to sail fast with just a friend or two as crew. After all, isn't this how we sail most of the time on a day's sail or when cruising? Rarely is the gang aboard to hold the boat down or fly a chute. Considering the realities of how we sail, the measure of a good sailboat should be how well it sails upwind and downwind with only 2-3 people aboard. The goal is VMG, Velocity-Made-Good, straight into the wind or away from the wind, considering both speed and sailing angle. Many of the modern integrated instrumentation systems can display this data, or you can use a set way-point to windward on a GPS to come up with the number.
Good short-handed VMGs are when a ''50-something'' husband & wife jibe a J/105 (34.5 ft.) with asymmetrical through Woods Hole against the current, while others motor. Or, if you can beat upwind in steep waves doing 6.8 knots with a VMG of 5 knots in 18 knots of wind!

J Boats Inc.
557 Thames Street
Newport, RI 02840
Phone: (401) 846-8410
Fax: (401) 846-4723