What is the leeway factor or sideslip on the Shoalsailer?
All boats sailing to weather demonstrate some leeway from the side forces of the wind on the hull. Typically, an America’s Cup type racing boat with a very deep keel will experience about 3-5 degrees of leeway, a fin keel moderate draft vessel will see about 6-8 degrees and a centerboard catboat or cruising catamaran will measure about 10-12 degrees of sideslip. The Shoalsailer was extensively sea-trialed using a J 30 and an older C&C 35 as trial horses. It was found that the Shoalsailer had approximately 7 degrees of average leeway over wind and sea conditions ranging from 8 knots to 22 knots, not quite as good as the J30 but better than the C&C.
