Racing tall rig, wing keel

[Mark G]

I don't expect to be first around the buoys but am thinking about racing my 1991 C34 in some distance events on Lake Michigan. Opinions? Experiences? My last boat was a C30.
Thanks from the snow-covered North.

[Stu Jackson]

Mark

We have an "oldie-but-goodie" hull #224, 1986.  We raced on SF Bay for 2 1/2 years and had a lot of fun.  We "retired" this year only because the mainsail was off the boat for cleaning and refurbishing.

Hulls #8 and #214 also race here.  Bill Eddy on Casino, #214, won the last winter series if I remember correctly.

The C34 is great to sail in races.  As you may know, we have enough C34s here to have our own class in midwinters and summer series sponsored by YRA.

Have a great season.

[Ted Pounds]

Here's what I've done so far to make "Molly Rose" competitive on Lake Michigan.

New 155 genoa from Doyle Chicago.
Corn blast old bottom and new VC-17.
Folding prop.
Garhauer adjustable Genoa lead kit.
New MK II rudder.
Low stretch halyards.

I think the most important PHRF-wise are the 155 and folding prop.
I've done well with this set-up in the Winthrop Harbor Yacht club Races.  This summer we won our section in the Founders Cup Regatta.  In the Queen's Cup we were in the middle of the pack, 85th out of about 175 entrants and 155 finishers.  We were about 2 minutes behind the other C34 standard rig.  I think he beat us because he had a symmetrical chute and there was a couple hours of dead down wind sailing.  Two years ago the new bottom, genoa and prop took me from sixth in both the Wed. night series to first.  If you do a search on the message board you'll see a lot more discussion on this subject.  Good luck.  We're doing the Queen's Cup again this year so maybe I'll see you out there.