Since 1182 as been back on the water we've come to some unusual observations and indeed one very specific "habit" that although it may sound somewhat un-nerving is now quite the norm with her....

she absolutely loves having her nose buried

It doesn't seem to matter wether its windy as all heck or just above a drifter of a day, she goes much better with that nose buried.

Last w/end we sailed in a very light breeze on the ocean, almost a drifter with the occasional puff but no-where near enough to get excited.
At first we slipped back through the fleet for no apparent reason and it was only when we moved our weight well up onto the foredeck that the loosing ground was reversed to the point where we actually caught up and continued to go ahead.... & when I say weight moved onto the foredeck, think knee's in front of the front beam .....


On the opposite days when hull flying is the norm she again struggles to stay with the crowd until the leeward foredeck is submerged and the water is slapping hard against the front beam sending spray everywhere.

We've now had her out enough to almost know where the "sweet spot" is..... the front bridal mounts



While other cats are dumping excessive wind so that they don't do the nose dive thing, we actually have become accustomed to it and it now seems "normal" to have the very tip of the bow several inches under the water.

Strangely we don't 'feel' like she's about to bury the snout and end over end us at all.... we have now on several occasions had the front beam under the water and she still powers on regardless with not a hint of even wanting to cartwheel.


Anyone else ever experienced this and what's causing it ???

if I can lay my hands on a water proof camera I'll tube up a vid....

ideas

Guess this is something that only the older mossie sailors would understand.

The older boats used to like to sail with bow down, rule of thumb was bow down to about an 1" of the deck to windward, (sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less usually depending on who had built the hulls)... increase waterline length etc etc.

Just makes for exciting sailing but with the newer hulls this skill is disappearing.

being an 'older boat' that's probably correct with the amount of rocker that was built into them back then

Might have to shift the trap mounts......
crews needs to be at the front shroud mark and the skips needs to be no further back than the front beam

Well here is another theory for you to play with.

When you put the bows down you are effectively raking your mast forward. it is possible the centre of effort in your sails is too far aft relative to your foils.

easy enough to test, just keep raking your rig forward until your helm comes neutral and see how it performs.

HTH

Easiest way to tune the boat up is come along to the sloop states at Rye, you'll be amazed how much faster you'll be after tuning against the other Mossies and talking to guys that sail them all the time.