CURRENTLY EN-ROUTE TO SAN FRANCISCO, CA VIA TAHITI (May, 2012)

Traveler Class Trimaran Alacrity (was Bird)

48' trimaran by Dick Newick
Click each image for larger view

Surfing multiple waves?

I just sailed my new 48' racing tri from Texas to South Carolina (for the Charleston to Bermuda race next Saturday), and on the *one* day we had decent weather I experienced a surfing phenomenon I had never experienced before (on my 38' tri, 43' cat, or 51' cat).

We were sailing north up the Atlantic coast with a 10-12 knot SW wind with the delivery (small) main & light screacher in about 4 foot waves. Normal speed was 12 - 13 knots, but then we'd catch a wave and start surfing up to 18 - 20. The unexpected thing is we would surf a wave for 5 seconds, then accelerate past it and jump onto the wave ahead, surf that one for 5 seconds, and jump onto the one ahead of that. By trimming the screacher constantly we managed on several occasions to continue the surfing each time for well over a minute.

Now that I've done it once accidentally, I'd like to be able to do it consistently. Has anybody else out there with one of the faster boats (Bill G. or Ross?) developed a technique for this?

Rex Conn
"Alacrity"
(from the Multihulls mailing list, May 12, 2003)

---

Reply from Patrick Dayshaw, Searunner 37 Bacchanal: "chasing holes"

---

[MHml] Surfing multiple waves?
Patrick Dayshaw patrick
Mon May 12 16:13:32 EST 2003
Previous message: [MHml] Surfing multiple waves?
Next message: [MHml] Thru hulls
Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]

Rex,

What you are describing is nicely documented in Jim Brown's book "Case for a Cruising Trimaran" (published in 1979). In it he describes John Marples' experience in the 1972 Transpac race with the 37 Searunner "Bacchanal".

Here's a quote from the book:

- "As an example of the kind of sailing that is required to compete in such events, Bacchanal was being driven at a speed that the crew described as "continuous surfing." The now-famous designer Bill Lee was the tactician in Bacchanal's crew, and perhaps the most gifted helmsman aboard. Once the boat had reached the trades, Bill discovered that she could be guided among the seas so as to always keep the bow pointing downhill, never losing the added help of gravity by running up the back of the wave ahead. This was done by "hopping" laterally to the next trough ahead, and to the side, thereby maintaining or exceeding the speed of the seaway-never being overtaken by, or attempting to overtake, a major crest. This tactic was dubbed "chasing holes." It required a working boat speed of at least 15 knots to be "plugged in," and the standing instructions to each wheelwatch were inscribed in grease-pen over the speedometer: "DO NOT SAIL ON UPHILL WATER." -

Nicely describes the concept. I suspect that with your lighter boat the "...15 knot minimum..." might be lower.

Patrick Dayshaw
Bacchanal, Searunner 37, #2
http://www.nwmultihull.org

-----Original Message-----
From: multihulls-bounces at steamradio.com [mailto:multihulls-bounces at steamradio.com]On Behalf Of Rex Conn
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2003 5:45 AM
To: multihulls at steamradio.com
Subject: [MHml] Surfing multiple waves?

Snip..... Snip...

Now that I've done it once accidentally, I'd like to be able to do it consistently. Has anybody else out there with one of the faster boats (Bill G. or Ross?) developed a technique for this?

Rex Conn
"Alacrity"

Source: web.archive.org/web/...