I have not expressed myself clearly. This has lead to misunderstandings by Manie B, Angelique and probably others. It may therefore be of general interest to elucidate some points.
My models are giving me ansvers to two questions. Can a boat that heavy and so short be driven by a small sail area. The ansver found is yes. The next question can a small boat that heavy and fat and beamy be directional stable downwind, – uppwind it is easy. The ansver again found is yes.
I am the designer, the builder and will be the Captain of Yrvind Ten communication between these differnt doers do not have to be with paper. There are many things to do. Therefore my models do not show all the details. It definitly would be better to do proper calculations and have proper drawings. It would be safer way, but it would be more boring and take more time. Therefore the model has no foreward lateral area. The real boat will have that, probably a pivoting centerboard. I have good experience from my own boats and from boats I have designed for others. Several ones have crossed the Atlantic so equipped.
Two times I have spent six months in the roaring forties in small boats. That together with extensive reading and talking to other sailors have given me a good idea of the weather there and there is a lot of missunderstanding.
It is a completly different weather pattern if you are a stationary observer or if you are moving with the weather systems like the clipper ships or the Volvo racers or the Vende singelhanders. If you are moving with the wind at from my point of view very high speed you will get a lot of westerly winds. If on the other hand like Yrvind Ten you move at average two knots you are almost stationary and you will get a lot of easterly winds, not only light winds but also gales. I once lost 150 miles in an easterly gale laying to sea anchor. I do not belive in them anymore. They are for boats that have a fear of capsizing. If you do not mind capsizing keep sailing against strong winds.
There are on the average two or three low pressures coming up from the Antartic each weak with very cold winds. The stationary observer will experince north west winds that will go anticlockwise to south west and the turn to light easterly. But other winds will also happen. The roaring forties is not a strong trade wind, not for a slow mowing boat. A slow mowing boat will experience a lot of windward work and need an efficient lateral area for and aft.
To be continued…
Regards Yrvind.