How fast can Seeker sail?

Question

Doug Jackson · Accepted Answer

Her hull speed is determined by her length at the waterline and that number is about 11 knots.  We have touched 13.5 knots, but that was a lot of wind pushing us south around Cape Hatteras.  In down wind conditions with 15 knots off the stern quarter, or coming from behind but not directly behind we will do 6.5 to 7 knots with all three sails up.  With the wind on the beam, directly from the side we do about 4.5 knots in 15 knots of wind.  And we will heal to about 12 degrees.  Sea stats or how big the waves are will change these number as well as how much cargo and fuel we are carrying.  And tell you the truth, I'm guess a bit at the numbers.  I never built Seeker as a go fast boat.  She is big, heavy, strong and slow.  I always wonder why people who want to get somewhere fast choose sailing when we have airliners.