'Weight on the Wire'

Dont know why we do it, call it windsurfers gut feeling, but we always
have someone out there. Either we're both out there when the wind
permits or he's out and I'm sitting in, or he sits in so I can get out there.

In windsurf world, getting hooked in and out unweights the board by
transferring the rider weight to the rig kind of what you see them doing
with foils bringing the rig over their heads, so we have this natural urge
to get out to weather.

I also think there's a natural tendency for a boat to heel to leeward and
getting 'out' at the very least brings it vertical which we all know (at least
the books tell us) upright is faster. (Unless you are lucky enough to have
that t foil assisting your ability to rake the whole lot over your head
windsurf style.)

Whatever it does, it just feels dead wrong both of us just sat there side by
side like twin dorks, so we don't do it. (Not that it means anything since
we've never sailed side by side with someone else of identical weight in
an identical boat to test the theory.)

Putting the crew out on the wire causes the leeward spreader to push the mast to windward. This makes the top of
the mast to bend to leeward and opens up the jib slot a bit, not really desirable behaviour. It feels faster than
just having helm and crew hike out a bit, but TBH I doubt whether it really helps at all.

Trapezing off the centreboard Jimbo, that reminds me of my days sailing long boards. It definitely helped to get
the centre of effort (ie, my feet) pushing on the centre of lateral resistance, but of course that was an unstayed
mast so it kept its shape. I doubt whether it would work quite so well on a 420, but (mast deformation aside)
probably a good idea.

It is also true that you get a better view of the spinnaker as a crew on the wire, and in a low cut asym spinnaker boat, the helm to leeward might get a chance to see other boats coming...

Originally posted by Mikey 14778 .Trapezing off the centreboard Jimbo, that reminds me of my days sailing long boards. It definitely helped to get the centre of effort (ie, my feet) pushing on the centre of lateral resistance..

Eh? Isn't that like trying to lift yourself up with your own bootstraps?

Mike

When we're sailing the Cherub we tend to put the helm on the crew's trapeze wire as high and as far forward as possible. The crew has the mainsheet and concentrates on the heal (side to side) of the boat. The helm has a really good view of the water from his high position and uses this to watch the water for waves and flat spots and concentrate on the balance (fore and aft).

However, light wind days are best spent in the bar drinking and laughing at those less fortunate than yourself, or in the garage building carbon spondhoolics!

edit: More rig tension could solve your bendy mast problems. We use about 350-400lbs.

Edited by Strawberry