posted August 05, 2001 01:43 PM            

Congratulations on your CL11 purchase. The CL11 is a remarkable boat, its small yet it has the same lines as most classic boats. We like to call it a proper little yacht (ever read that book?).

Being a sailing instructor that has used the CL11 for training purposes before I can say they will take more then 1 foot waves (the average waves in Lake Erie are this anyway). The floatation of the 11 is placed so that it will ride waves. The bow floats higher so that it will travel up and then as the boat gains speed going down a wave the extra floatation ensures the bow will not plant into a oncoming wave. When sailign in waves you should head up (steer closer to the wind) in the troughs (low part of wave) and bear off (steer farther fromt he wind) on the crest (going down). This jus ensure you keep maximun speed and thus do not sit there bobign in the waves.

There is alot I can talk about here, just ensure you do not exceed a lavel you are comfortable with. Then it will be dangerous no matter which boat you are on.

Happy Sailing