The Tasar v the Icon

Back to the Icon, which I'm looking forward to using tonight, one thing I did notice as I dropped it as usual into the gravel and grass of the boat park, was the novel new design of those stupid cir clip things that go through the pins on these idiot antediluvian chain stays this ridiculous industry persists in using.

They are marginally easier to use which I guess makes them 90 % useless to mankind instead of the normal 99% keyring style, fiddly, 'designer should be hung drawn and quartered', tool of the devil.

I'd love a pound for everyone of them that populates the ground of the dinghy boat parks of the world

Greame

We will continue to wait patiently for 'feedback' .... There will be several things you should probabaly deal with almost immediately as recent boats do need a little 'fettling' in our experience.   Be interesting to see if you pick up on them.

But in anticipatrion and in the hope the following helps a bit with one thing I know you will find novel -  'Dangly poles for Icon Virgins ... '

1) They prevent the crew throwing valuable kit over the side ....
2) You can use them almost just like a jib stick ...well sort of
3) And also one that is highly adjustable in effective length and can apply 'down force' (bit like a 'jib kicker')  Makes you realise just how inefficient jibs are on most boats except when close hauled....
4) You can control the slot between main and jib at ALL angles from near close hauled to running dead downwind.  A bit of finesse is hightly rewarded and I reckon effective danglies are one of the key innovations of the last couple of decades. 
5) Experiment with it when reaching at first - the crew controls both the jib sheet AND the dangly control line.  When they 'get it right' you will feel the benefit ... on the main as well as on the jib.
6) If it all goes 'pear shaped' the crew only has to release the dangly line - it will sort itself out !
7) When NOT in USE ... the crew should cleat off excess control line (ie just tidy things up a bit) to stop it causing trouble flopping around in tacks etc ... but no real force is applied of course.
8) When you approach the windward mark and start to bear away the crew can gradually put more dangly pressure on as you go on a reach ....
9) If the course takes you dead downwind go deep on the 'bear away' until the pole is all the way out and then gybe .... just the main.  This keeps some power on through the gybe and on the opposite side the jib is already goose-winging for you.
10 PLAY with it ... try out lots of different things until you both get the 'feel'
11) IF you have problems with pole deployment etc let us know - most problems are down to the elastic tension (up the mast) and/or the use of a crap control line in the system (one that binds on the pole where it exits).  It is also possible you may need to adjust the 'static' line (u/down mast) on which the pole runs.     
12) Boats are for fun - so enjoy Icon.  It is a bit counter intuitive for some as it challenges a few pre-conceptions but I think a bit of board experience might even help at first there... 

And the forecast for this historic sail is ?

Mike L.

Originally posted by jeffers The pole on that demo boat seemed to be pretty well setup. I and my various crews had not problems with it at all (once we got the hang of what to do with it).

Edited by kneewrecker - 24 Jul 14 at 1:16pm

Originally posted by kneewrecker Originally posted by jeffers The pole on that demo boat seemed to be pretty well setup. I and my various crews had not problems with it at all (once we got the hang of what to do with it).  I dunno- almost seems a shame it's on there tbh....

As a Firefly sailor who hates the jib stick, and wishes the class would see the light, having a dangly pole is a no brainer. A novice crew can be coached on pulling the pole on in just a few minutes, and so long as you aren't fiddling with it every few seconds, can get 95% of the benefit without having to be a physicist. A jib stick, on the other hand, involves standing up, trying to poke a spike into a small hole that already has jib sheets in it while a sail flaps and bashes. Only really of use on a long, boring run.