[PUP] Reducing roll in a seaway

[Truelove39 at aol.com]

Hi all,
 
Thinking of removing the "riding sail" from the mast but having second  
thoughts. It is not effective as a riding sail as there is sufficient windage  aft. 
The only benefit we've seen is a bit of a free push in following winds of  20 
knots and more; it also helps to cut the yaw if the wind and sea are on the  
quarter. But while contemplating its removal, it occurred to me that there may 
 be another reason to keep it.  
 
It has been our SOP to deploy only a windward fish in beam seas (got the  
idea from Beebe) when both are not needed for comfort.
We do this to save fuel and achieve slightly better speed, plus  we only have 
to retrieve one! The windward fish normally offsets the slight heel  due to 
wind; conversely, we have seen the wind and sea veer and the windward  fish 
become the leeward. When this happens the heel increases, and that  diminishes 
the roll slightly. It was this that got me to thinking that we will  likely have 
less rolling if we intentionally heel the boat further while  underway. 
 
In a sailboat (we have a sailing hull) roll is reduced not only due to wind  
pressure on the sail but also due to the fact that as heel  increases the 
lever arm of the ballast (about 8 tons 6 to 7  feet below the waterline in our 
case) is increasingly effective in  resisting further heel. 
 
So my thinking is that because the effect of the ballast in preventing roll  
is small for the first 10 -15 degrees, it would be much more effective if the  
boat was already heeled that same amount, as it only acts in one  direction.
 
If the riding sail (proven to be un-needed otherwise) added to this  
scenario, it might be worthwhile keeping.
 
Any thoughts or comments appreciated!
 
Regards,
 
John
"Seahorse"
 
 
**************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy 
steps! 
(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1215855013x1201028747/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072%26hmpgID=62%26bcd=De
cemailfooterNO62)