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snowleopard View Drop Down
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Posts: 66 		Post Options Post Options   Quote snowleopard Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Cat Sailing tips
    Posted: 25 Mar 18 at 9:14am
One of the most difficult, but apparently simple, aspects of fast multihull sailing is plotting a course to steer downwind. We all know that if we steer around 45° off the dead downwind course we go a lot faster but how far off is a critical decision. To get the best speed it is necessary to do some experimentation in different wind and sea conditions.

If you get hold of a GPS - any basic one will do - set a waypoint a long way off, dead downwind, then read VMG as you steer at various angles off the direct course and see which gives you the best result. 

In my own case, it came out that while I was doing 6 kts through the water downwind and 8 kts 'aiming off', the best vmg was always straight downwind. Don't assume that will be the same for your Tornado, Hobie or whatever. My results are down to my special rig that optimises downwind sailing.
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Posts: 62 		Post Options Post Options   Quote stewart smith Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Feb 12 at 8:03pm
Hi Matt,
My daughter went to Datchet last weekentd for the Spitfire Training. She learnt a great deal in just 2 days even though the wind was light. Note the training is not just for juniors and youth, but open to adults as well. The next Spitfire UKCRA Open training event is at Weymouth on 11/12 Feb and 10/11 March at Pevensey Bay. Contact Nick Henson
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Stuart O View Drop Down
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Posts: 514 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Stuart O Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jun 11 at 7:29pm
Dump the traveller right off and will depend on the wind direction.
 
as soon as the crew has the boat under control unclip the mainsheet
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Posts: 151 		Post Options Post Options   Quote mattmd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jun 11 at 2:36pm
Thank you for the advice :) 
When we come in there is a ramp and not a huge margin for error, what's the best way to slow the thing down ? 
>come in fast and swing it into the wind? 
>slow as possible all sails flappping and go straight
> drop the main and sail in on the jib 

???? 
Matt MD
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Posts: 739 		Post Options Post Options   Quote ASok Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jun 11 at 8:13pm
Biggest thing is to get used to in cats coming from dinghies is the the time required.

Do not think you can bang a quick tack and lee bow another boat.  The boat will go slow through the tack and you may well park it a few times.  Give yourself time and space otherwise you upset a few people! Smile 
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English Dave View Drop Down
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Posts: 682 		Post Options Post Options   Quote English Dave Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jun 11 at 7:07pm
OK Simon. Whatever you say Tongue
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Scooby_simon View Drop Down
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Posts: 2415 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Scooby_simon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jun 11 at 4:22pm
Originally posted by English Dave

Simon, everything you've said is accurate. But IMO way too complicated for a first regatta. Don't forget that the fastest way to sail any boat is to keep looking out and not looking in. So as long as Matt's basic setup is ok and he can work the downhual then I'd leave fine rig adjustments for a later date.

Best to keep his head out of the boat to look for shifts, lifts and other boats. Ive seen the best sailors win in a bad boat - but not seen a bad sailor win in a good boat.

And i still dont think you can fly a hull on spitfire downwind. Your F16 has tabs on the rudders to stop nose diving. You would need to be trapezing so far back on a Spit to stop that happening. I see all Spifires running very broad downwind and keeping it flat but heated. Happy to be wrong but I just haven't seen it! Send me the youtube link!

Matt has crewed an F18 so he knows the workload a crew is under. And he can sail a Contender, so he should know about feeding the rudder gently in a tack. Telling the guy about crew taking the mainsheet is totally unrealistic for a makeshift team.

Its rare that I disagree with you Scooby but i do think you have made Matt's weekend more complicated than it needs to be. 

 
Naa Dave; Just covered the basic!
 
Not as high as my F16 no; just skimming; look on Youtube for any of the Spitfire vids; windward hull just kissing the surface.  I've romped around the IOW on one and few had a hull up with the kite up most of the way.  
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Posts: 4028 		Post Options Post Options   Quote G.R.F. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jun 11 at 4:12pm
Originally posted by Scooby_simon

  we have to take strategic decisions; 
 
LOL

Like which corner to bang?
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English Dave View Drop Down
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Posts: 682 		Post Options Post Options   Quote English Dave Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jun 11 at 3:52pm
Simon, everything you've said is accurate. But IMO way too complicated for a first regatta. Don't forget that the fastest way to sail any boat is to keep looking out and not looking in. So as long as Matt's basic setup is ok and he can work the downhual then I'd leave fine rig adjustments for a later date.

Best to keep his head out of the boat to look for shifts, lifts and other boats. Ive seen the best sailors win in a bad boat - but not seen a bad sailor win in a good boat.

And i still dont think you can fly a hull on spitfire downwind. Your F16 has tabs on the rudders to stop nose diving. You would need to be trapezing so far back on a Spit to stop that happening. I see all Spifires running very broad downwind and keeping it flat but heated. Happy to be wrong but I just haven't seen it! Send me the youtube link!

Matt has crewed an F18 so he knows the workload a crew is under. And he can sail a Contender, so he should know about feeding the rudder gently in a tack. Telling the guy about crew taking the mainsheet is totally unrealistic for a makeshift team.

Its rare that I disagree with you Scooby but i do think you have made Matt's weekend more complicated than it needs to be. 
English Dave
Ballyholme Yacht Club

(You'd think I'd be better at it by now)

Hurricane 5.9 SX
RS700
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Stuart O View Drop Down
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Posts: 514 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Stuart O Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jun 11 at 9:39am
where should the traveller be?
 
will depend on conditions. Personally I sail with it in the centreline all the time even when howling apart from the start or in extreme risk of capsize...think of it as a panice button...its either off or on...fully dumped or on the centreline
 
Downwind DO NOT release the mainsheet use the traveller...dumping the mainsheet with kite up=broken mast
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