" Adélie", South Coast One Design Lying Hampshire
" Adélie", South Coast One Design Lying Hampshire
|
|
Owner's Comments
We have sailed Adélie extensively from Chichester Harbour every season since we bought her in 1985. In addition to regular weekend Solent cruising, we have had a summer cruise in most years, frequently of three or four weeks, either to the Channel Islands and north Brittany, or to Dorset and Devon. We are seeking to sell Adélie because we have recently bought a yacht in New Zealand on which we plan to spend each northern winter. SCODs are beautifully balanced and will almost sail themselves on the wind when properly set up. Indeed, they are outstanding windward boats and in a reasonable breeze can tack through as little as 100º. We have always based our passage plans on maintaining five knots, but with the wind a bit free, could happily average six.
SCODs are very buoyant, but stiff too, so although they could never be described as “dry” when sailing hard, they are difficult to heel sufficiently to put their lee rail under and rarely ship green water. Even in the lumpiest, most confused seas, SCODs never seem over-pressed or too heavy on the helm, but put their head down and plug on relentlessly. It is said that it is unnecessary to reef a SCOD in under Force 6. This may well be true when racing, but we have found that she is most comfortable with one reef in the main, particularly when off the wind, and she seems to lose nothing in speed. Certainly, in open water – when crossing the Channel, say, or Lyme Bay – you can maintain the average 5-6 knots in this mode and feel safe and snug doing it. In all our time with Adélie we have never felt the need to put in a second reef. Under engine, Adélie will maintain 5 knots in all reasonable conditions and has crossed the Channel, Solent to Alderney or Cherbourg, more than once under engine alone. |
|
|
