Well, I have been reading most of your posts regularly and frankly speaking it has kept that glimmer of flame that I would get on the water again. I've had nothing meaningful to contribute
Thank You.
After going through prostate cancer then getting giant cell
arteritis ( if your not aware of it google)in a bad way and losing sight temporarily in one eye 4 times I decided a couple of months ago , stuff it , at 73 if I don't pull the trigger on something now I never will.
My head over ruled my heart and I bought a Sonata 6 (bit of a come down from a Bounty35)
Take delivery in a couple of weeks.
I will be exclusively solo sailing and sticking to the Broardwater and Southern Moreton Bay to get back in the swing then may look at something bigger ( fixed keel perhaps)
So if you see a Sonata 6 sailing erratically around there when passing through say hi BUT give it a wide berth . I will probably be over canvassed and out of control.
The TS boys have been very helpful as well.
Hey Shaggy I really wanted your Sonata but I was to crook.

G'day BB,
I will certainly keep a look out for you. I am sorry to here about the health issues, but congratulations on the Sonata! I reckon they are lovely well mannered boats, and a 6 is a great size boat to singlehand. We used to buy 2nd hand Etchells kites for the 8 as they a bigger foot than the standard kites, and even pinned on its side massively overcanvassed it would calmly lie there until you sorted your s*&t out and pop back up and merrily continue on its way.
It must feel a bit small after a Bounty ! Was the Bounty a recent ride, or many moons ago? You've certainly picked the right time of year for swanning around the Broadwater, spring in SE Qld is a beautiful time of year to be sailing, and the water's warming up too.
Pics! We need pics!
Best of luck with the health issues BB,
SB

Thanks SB,
Really looking forward to exploring these waters.
Bounty was many moons ago out of Melb. I only ever raced her so am looking forward to being crewless ,probably hopeless as well.
I have always liked the lines of the Sonata and even though perhaps a bit slow compared to the modern dinghy style I figured a safer option provided I don't try and race every boat I see
Well perhaps a new main, and larger No.1 ,strip out down below.
A couple of little gofasts for trimming. ??
Will get some pics .
BB

It's all mine WooHoo
Add some lifelines , vang , couple if instruments and that's it
Dont want to over capitalise . Yet.

She looks good BB, best of luck to you!
Trimming tricks...Unsure if these would work on the 6, but for your information on the 8 we ran low friction rings on shorts strop through the normal headsail cars to give us a finer trim capability. The strops were jam cleated in the cockpit. The headsail sheets run through the low friction rings.
When reaching we'd ease the strop to get the clew further outboard without losing leech tension. Close hauled we'd run a small line from the ring to a turning block on the base of the mast to act as an in-hauler to close up the slot.

The 8 is flat forrrard of the keel, more than my fat bottomed Pogo! So we always sailed her with a bit of heel. In sloppy swell close hauled, we used to rob a lot of power as you punch through the wave and then land flat. You're better off heeled for a softer landing and less deceleration.
Same thing in the really light, heel, use lee weight and get the boom on the centre line. Also for the light airs, a gentle touch on the rudder. The Sonatas have a pretty decent rudder, it'll act like a handbrake if your heavy handed and stirring the pot, should hardly need to do more than a wee amount of weather helm.

On weather helm, a neutral helm would give me a lesser VMG than a touch of weather helm. With a neutral helm, the keel is not providing any lift, and you get more leeway drift. Get the traveller up to generate some weather helm and the increased angle of attack for the keel generates more lift. As this "lift" is diametrically opposed to the lift of the sails, you get the benefit of a better go-forward speed. Makes sense to me now, but it took me a few years to work it out.

Let me know if you want a hand, I'll come down and go out with you!
Cheers,
SB

So ,your still learning how to get the best out of a Sonata SB
What great info.
I am going to download , cut and past and laminate above for cockpit.
I had a kind of similar set up for closehaul trimming on Bounty albiet using a shorter traveller inboard .
She has good bones and nothing seems stressed ,most definitely not seriously raced. Currently no and no sign of ever having had any instruments.
I need to learn her limits ,and mine , but before that I have to set up a vang and possibly a new mainsail and optimising rigging tension etc. even though a masthead .
I have two strapping grandsons 19,21 who already indicated they want to learn to sail ( that will be race after first time out I reckon) so you can pretty much guarantee I will be accepting your offer in due course.
Thanks
BB

Congrats BB, just mucking about with boats is a great day for me and I guess you'll find the same.
I think it may possibly be the same boat my friend was wanting?? so be glad you got in 1st!!

Select to expand quote

slammin said..
Congrats BB, just mucking about with boats is a great day for me and I guess you'll find the same.
I think it may possibly be the same boat my friend was wanting?? so be glad you got in 1st!!

Thanks Mate