In an e-mail conversation with John Alland I mentioned that Slow Ride's fixed keel configuration apparently makes her a much better performer than the swing keel boats. The additional area of the fixed keel (maybe 15% - 20% even?) and the design of the keel (weight placed very low) make this not surprising. John concurred and said that he had tested both on Lake Mead (maybe the photos in the old brochure that I have?).

In any event, this got me thinking about a couple of stories with which I can bore y'all. Everyone agrees that the Midship/Dawson/Parker Dawson boats aren't performance machines but: In my experience, mine does very well head to head against boats up to about 30'. There are likely a couple of reasons for this:

1. They weren't designed to beat a MORC rule and so weren't handicapped for 'real' performance.

2. They have a fairly long waterline (22' 2") for the overall length.

A couple of stories:
A friend and I were headed for Middle Bass Island for the weekend. My friend and his wife were avid and fairly successful club racers. Their boat was the old model (Mk I I guess?) Cal 28, light and very well equipped.

We left Sandusky on a beat that happened to take us right out the channel. One tack 10 - 12 kts, just Slow Ride's range. We were 'cleaning clock' on my buddy when a couple of miles off the Sandusky Pierhead light, the wind dropped and shifted a bit so I tacked toward the West.

The Cal tacked also but probably 3/4 mile below me. The wind was in the 6 - 8kt range, just at the lower edge of 'good air' for Slow Ride with her small jenny. I beat myself to *death* for the next hour and a half, trimming, tweaking, adjusting and just couldn't overtake the Cal. Even lost a little ground much to my dismay.

When we finally dropped anchor five minutes after they had, stowed the gear and joined them for beers, I said 'Man, that thing really moves well in light air!'. He said 'Well, yeah. I was running the diesel.' LOL

At least my hard work was vindicated.

Another trip, another friend. This time a modern Catalina 25 with a big jenny that always kills me in light to medium air on a reach. We had been in one of the nicest bays on Lake Erie for the weekend (South Bay of Pelee Island). When we left, the wind was out of the SSW and ... well, nice. 12 - 15 kts. just a comfortable close reach. Not beating so we had good boat speed.

From South Bay to the entrance to Sandusky Bay is a straight shot, just missing Kelleys Island's Long Point, so I set a course for home.

As we sailed along, I asked my mate 'Where is Bob Going???' he was off our course by a horrible amount, maybe 10 degrees ... when he arrived in the marina almost an hour after we did I asked why he was heading for Huron all of the way back (a bit of an exaggeration). He said that he was sailing as high as he could. He had gone almost half way to Huron, then had to make a tack to make the Bay. Our boat speed was much better as was our line.

Since I have never sailed a swing keel, I am anxious to do that. Wonder if there are enhancements that could be made to the keel?

P.S. John Alland also mentioned having watched a pool test in which a swing keel Midship righted herself ... with the keel retracted. That is a comforting thought, eh?

I'm sure a fixed keel boat will perform better...One reason being the huge centerboard trunk full of turbulent water! On a run or motoring, we raise Costa's keel and pick up at least a knot of boat speed...

Also, our old Hallmark sails, especially the Main, can not compete with boats with modern, fully battened mainsails.

When racing a friends Nor'sea 27, which must weigh 12,000 pounds, a fully loaded cruiser, I must use a 150 Genny to stand a chance, while he nibbles at me with his working sails. As windspeed increases to over 12 knots, in the 15-20 range, Costa with working jib, holding the Nor'sea off is almost impossible.