light wind sailing

Hi I sail a contender and I seem to be loosing lots of places when there is light wind ( pre trapeze conditions) so can anyone help me. p.s. can someone also guive me some tips for going up wind in about 10 - 20 knts

Edited by tim grasse

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tim grasse Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 01 Feb 10 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 34	Post Options Post Reply Quote tim grasse Report Post Quote Reply Topic: light wind sailing Posted: 24 Jul 10 at 12:23pm
	Hi I sail a contender and I seem to be loosing lots of places when there is light wind ( pre trapeze conditions) so can anyone help me. p.s. can someone also guive me some tips for going up wind in about 10 - 20 knts Edited by tim grasse

winging it Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 22 Mar 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3958	Post Options Post Reply Quote winging it Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Jul 10 at 8:08pm
	In very light winds you need to sit very well forward, probably on the floor up against the front bulkhead. You need to let the traveller off so you can ease the boom out over the quarter, and not sheet hard at all. kicker off, cinningham off, outhaul slightly on.
	the same, but different...

A Seabadger Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 11 Oct 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 222	Post Options Post Reply Quote A Seabadger Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Aug 10 at 5:12pm
	In very light winds you follow the wind not necessarily the shifts.
	I don't suffer from insanity...I enjoy every moment of it.

winging it Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 22 Mar 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3958	Post Options Post Reply Quote winging it Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Aug 10 at 7:50pm
	Yeah....I saw your pics in the nssa website - sitting/standing where you were would be really slow - move much further forwards. ps I am not a stalker, I was looking st pictures of the csysa team and saw you there!
	the same, but different...

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Oct 10 at 9:07am
	Concentrate really, really hard, too...it is very easy to miss the tiny variations in the wind when getting bored, and a missed lift will cost you loads of ground, whereas you can be sure you can't miss the headers! So up wind, your gaze needs to be fixed on the telltales like a hawk. If the boat is heeled to leeward, it not only allows for less wetted surface, but makes sailing up on the lifts really easy, with not too much rudder movement, which is slow. Downside is that you'll need to bring the boat flat to bear off in the headers, or the rudder is fighting the hull shape, and that is slow, too.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

patj Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 16 Jul 04 Location: Wiltshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 640	Post Options Post Reply Quote patj Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Oct 10 at 7:39pm
	Sit STILL - every movement stops the boat. And none of this constant rocking that's prevalent on the Thames - Rule 42. Judge by tell tales and don't rely on the burgee as the wind at the top of the mast and at the boom level will be doing two different things and the wind won't be doing the same thing in two places - in those conditions we've often seen the flags on the marks all pointing in different directions on Shearwater (small lake) and boats running towards each other under symmetric spinnakers! Edited by patj - 13 Oct 10 at 7:44pm

Sailaboat Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Newbie Joined: 05 Oct 10 Location: UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sailaboat Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Nov 10 at 2:07pm
	For me, leach tension is critical. When the wind eases, ease the mainsheet a little. This frees off the upper part of the leach and seems to help pointing. As you start to hike, pull the main tight again to tighten the leach.
	www.Sailaboat.tv for high quality training videos on sailing

mattmd Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 23 Mar 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 151	Post Options Post Reply Quote mattmd Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Nov 10 at 3:58pm
	Do you tack in front of of behind the mainsheet in very very light winds? I tryed both last weekend with mixed results ; In front of seem to stop me getting stuck in irons and seemed fast but got tiller stuck and had to move back to to slip it round And Behind slowed the boat but could pump the boat faster and didnt have problems flicking the tiller round and was pritty quick at getting to the front of the boat again
	Matt MD Contender GBR-620

Sailaboat Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Newbie Joined: 05 Oct 10 Location: UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sailaboat Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Nov 10 at 4:06pm
	I should have said that I sail a Solo, which is different, but sail setting techniques are the same across the classes I have found. I always tack behind the mainsheet. I think being too far forward slows the boat down as the trim is radically altered which affect the waterline length and maneouverability. I try to use the tiller as little as possible, when very light roll the boat a bit to steer, mindful of rule 42 though! Rudder is a better brake than steering aid!
	www.Sailaboat.tv for high quality training videos on sailing

mattmd Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 23 Mar 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 151	Post Options Post Reply Quote mattmd Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Nov 10 at 9:18pm
	I see your point used to sail laser, however with a contender being 16 ft long you really do slow down considerably when you move back in the boat, I just think the boats are too different to compare.
	Matt MD Contender GBR-620