Something i've had a little trouble with are the downwind legs. She is quite a handful in the swells on a broad reach, and especially a dead downwind run. Forget that one! In calm waters, she is pretty fun, even got the spinnaker up. But when it's blowing good, and 2-3' swells and whitecaps on the river, man, you better be paying attention. Is there something i'm not doing right, or are they all this way? I have to say i think offshore would be a better ride than the bloody Columbia with 25 knots blowing up river against the current. Gets old pretty fast, and not much fun. We got stopped in our tracks by a couple swells when close hauled. I was glad she was a good stout boat--she handled it fine, but sure putting things to the test. It would be interesting to measure the lbs. of force on the rigging.
Maybe those downwind runs are why there was all the cement in the bilge? Any thoughts? Stay home when it's over 20? lol