Alan BourdonYachts Ltd
42 Constitution Hill Road. Poole, Dorset BH 14 OQD
Tel Parkstone (0202) 741911
AT Reg 323645I Th
Our Ref: AJB/CEV
DEHLER 34/DEFILER 31
SAILING RECOMMENDATIONS
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
The Dehler 34 and Dehler 31 class yachts can both be regarded as good performance
family cruiser racers. In other words they not only serve as excellent family cruising
yachts, they can be raced with success. The Dehler 34 hull form has been taken from
the same mould as our previous race winning Dehler dbl 1.0. R. Championship winning
yacht. The slightly modified current Dehler db2
S'-1,744
Z7Z is still
about 80%dbl
hull form. You will see therefore in the case of the Dehler 34 we have produced a
potentially very fast racer cruiser which will perform well under I.0.R., the new
Channel Handicap Rating System for cruiser racers, also in Club Handicap competition.
RUNNING
Due to their moderate to light displacement these yachts are capable of surfing indeed
sometimes planing downwind, which coupled to their J rig, fair sweet sections, excellent
stability and powerful semi-balanced spade rudders, will give an excellent control. Both
yachts are capable when running of carrying spinnakers in winds In excess of 40 knots
true. Under these conditions the yachts can plane in excess of 15 knots which in turn
reduces the apparent windspeed to about 25 knots. There is never any tendency for the
yachts to bury their bows or roll in heavy weather down-wind conditions, providing you
tack down-wind. Compared to a masthead rig it is even more important with a J rig
to always tack down-wind with the apparent wind on the weather quarter. When sailing
down-wind slacken off the adjustable standing backstay, ease the kicking strap slightly
to straighten the mast. This will assist in balancing the
-
helm in both reaching and
running conditions. Also ease the mainsail luff and foot tension, also the genoa luff
tension, to maximise full flowing sails.
REACHING
The Dehler 34 and Dehler 31 class yachts due to their good stability coupled to a rig
configuration can carry a full size spinnaker when reaching in quite strong winds. In
the light of experience we have found that a narrow headed heavy weather spinnaker is not
really worth the investment. When the wind becomes too strong to sensibly carry a
spinnaker on any reasonable point of sailing allowing the boat to heel too far and broach,
you will sail much faster maintaining a straight line course by flying a genoa or heavy
weather headsail. You can soon check this point by checking and assessing your speed
through the water. Naturally the broader the reach the longer you can carry a spinnaker
In a given wind strength. It follows you can, at times, when in doubt carry a spinnaker
j) sail low then reach up under genoa to the next mark. Ihis tactic can often pay, particu
Dehler Ydch
Directors:
continued/
Alan Bourdon
Julia Bourdon
Vdn I)
F)
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