New Saskatchewan sales representative. Loon Creek Ent. Ltd. Southey , SK Jerome Therrien Phone: (306)726-4574
The 26 balances beautifully. A light touch on the wheel is all
that is necessary to track a perfect course. The big twin rudders give excellent
control. The boat is light. A light boat like this requires less sail area
to sail fast, so sail handling is easy. The 26's light weight and its powerboat
underbelly allow the boat to get up on top of the water and plane in heavy
winds. In such conditions, these boats have exceeded 17 mph under sail.
Most small sailboats, with their round bottoms, have speeds limited to around
5 to 6 mph.
You can always make a fast boat go slower by reducing sail, but you can't
make a slow boat sail fast. There is no sacred principle that says a great
cruising sailboat should be slow, and there is no greater frustration than
a comfortable "houseboat" that just doesn't sail.
The MacGregor 26 offers the amenities of a "houseboat" combined
with high performance sailing. There are a lot of boats on the market
that do not sail fast or handle well. The best bet is to sail any boat that
you intend to buy, or watch it sailing competitively against other sailboats.
The turkeys will be obvious.
The 26 can also be raced within one of the many MacGregor class organizations.
These MacGregor organizations are sprinkled throughout the country and offer
a lot of low cost fun, including racing, parties, and cruises.
If the 1500 lbs of water ballast is drained, the boat becomes an even faster
sailboat. However, like most small sailboats or catamarans, without ballast
it can be capsized if you are not watchful. For protected waters or when
sailing near shore, the added speed can make for fun.
For really lazy sailing, you can use the mainsail alone. You lose
some speed, but the boat will handle very well. The mainsail has a set of
reef points that will reduce its area by forty percent. This is essential
for sailing in high winds, and great for learning to sail in normal winds.
In really heavy winds, the boat will actually sail faster with a reefed
mainsail. Reefing is quick and simple.
Learning to Sail: No boat is easier to sail. You can learn to sail
in an afternoon. Read one of the widely available pamphlets on the basics
of sailing. Pick a nice day with a light breeze. Take the boat to the water,
launch it, fill the ballast tank and buzz around with the engine until you
get the hang of it. It is no tougher than driving a car. Then set the mainsail
and let the wind provide some of the power. Keep the engine running at idle
to get you out of tight places. An hour or so of this and you will have
a pretty good idea of how it works. When you are comfortable using the mainsail,
raise the jib. An afternoon like this and you will be fairly accomplished.
To learn to sail is easy. To learn to make a boat sail to perfection can
take forever (this is one of the great joys of the sport). The best argument
for learning to sail is that once you start, you will stay with it for a
lifetime. It is that much fun.
The boat comes with a owner's guide, filled with photographs and
instructions, for the initial rigging of the boat, and for every phase of
its operation and maintenance. In addition, many dealers provide lessons
when you purchase your boat.