Cirrus Icon Development

Hi Andy

We inherent 'fore/aft' capability like several other classes..... the jib is zipped up the forestay and the strop at the bottom can be set short or long.  This changes the sheeting angle quite dramatically if you want.  There is no point in getting more elaborate until we have an optimally cut jib .... the decision to replace not being ours but a sail suppliers after reviewing.   The current one is a tad too full in the top third and too flat at the bottom - and beyond reasonable limits.  There are other control techniques available to us as well once we replace the current version.  In all other respects the rig is 'signed off' now
 
We were simply trying things out on a rather dull sailing day but I was rather pleased as to the unexpected upwind jib stick capability and the upwind performance hike.  It rather 'proved' the limits of the current jib and why it needed tweaking.  You don't have to use the pole, but if you do you don't have to keep adjusting it and it is no hassle at all in the tacks.  It is unlikely to be needed in practice however but there may be the odd occasion ...... 

If you always accept convention and don't try anything new you soon stop learning ! 

Mike L.

LAST SAIL BEFORE THE DINGHY SHOW ...

It looked pretty boring but the new cut jib had arrived and we had to test it .... in summary it is flatter at the top and fuller in the bottom third with softer full length battens.  Anyway it worked very well and the rig/hull setup can point really high while still keeping the speed on.  Previously it was more 'speed' or 'pointing' - your choice.  We have therefore completed the rig programme .... with less than a week to spare.

The afternoon however was looking to be a complete anticlimax after the morning testing with 'Force Zero to F1' that we got to the point where both agreed - "windward mark once more and then either it picks up or we go in"  (cos its near the clubhouse, Rugby on the TV, beer etc).  In the event it did pick up -  a reasonable amount and suddenly -  we screamed across the top leg and then headed downwind - time for the dangle pole we thought smugly - and then the knot connecting pole to jib fell apart (Yes Simon I know I tied it not you ...).  While faffing around with it and not paying attention we got hit by another gust, result capsize..... "B*gger, B*gger etc".... vowed not to try and 'assist' crew with re-tying knots in future and concentrate on sailing while he tied a better knot on his own.  However still watching crew as we started off fast downwind and this time did not notice mainsheet loop around ankle - then time to dump main on next gust inevitably.... and ANOTHER dip !   Simon must have muttered something to himself about a helm who cannot tie knots and that dumps him in twice in 100m (and him in a 'token' summer armless wetsuit as well now sampled the water more 'directly' as we recovered).

The 'official'  version of these proceedings in the BSC bar later is that we were conducting 'Production hull capsize tests ... successfully'.  The amazing thing is that in the whole of 2010 we only dumped the rig in the water unintentionally once and here we were doing it in relatively easy conditions twice in 100m !   **** happens !

The positives ?  The nearly sealed and very light mast means capsizes are a lot less hassle - Simon and I clambered over the hull onto the centreboard around the hull rather than 'swimming' (We are single-handers primarily after all !) both times - many boats would tend to invert given this sort of treatment but Icon never put the mast tip more than half a metre below the surface and we were  not helping things really.  It also comes up quickly but  progressively, does not float too high on its side anyway, and with its unusual (smooth) gunwhale is easy to slide back into.

See you at the show - Stand B56  near the corner bar in the Great Hall.... !)

Mike L.








Edited by blaze720 - 28 Feb 11 at 9:00pm

Hi,
Launch offer is £7995 including trolley and cover. That is a real bargin IMO.
Are you coming to the show tomorrow? If so, I'll see you there.

the cunno looked almost imposible to get to when its windy, i didn't like the  rope going through the eyes on the kicker and outhaul as it thing it would wear the rope and make things much harder to adjust and it definately needs a fairlead on the jib pole they allow the crew to get the rope it the cleat when the crew is not on the centre line of the boat 

Originally posted by wrong way up the cunno looked almost imposible to get to when its windy