RS200 sailing

   hmmmmmm. When i have crewed a 200 the helm tended to crank in the main and cleat it, we slipped sideways a LOT and it wasnt fast at all! I would reccomend playing the main as much as your arms will manage, crank on the kicker to flatten the main and reduce sheet loads. 

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29er397 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 02 Feb 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 505	Post Options Post Reply Quote 29er397 Report Post Quote Reply Topic: RS200 sailing Posted: 30 May 06 at 11:27pm
	hmmmmmm. When i have crewed a 200 the helm tended to crank in the main and cleat it, we slipped sideways a LOT and it wasnt fast at all! I would reccomend playing the main as much as your arms will manage, crank on the kicker to flatten the main and reduce sheet loads.
	Kielder Water Sailing Club

Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Posted: 30 May 06 at 10:26pm
	Do you mean bring the top section of the main into play? Yes it will bring the top of the main closer to the wind giving you a greater heeling moment at the top of the sail. Although at the same time you dont have lowers on a 200 so the bottom of the mast would bend quite a lot flattening off the sail. Any top end 200 sailors care to enlighten??? I spose a good option would be to add a trapeze to the boat

Holly Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 30 May 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 17	Post Options Post Reply Quote Holly Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 30 May 06 at 9:44pm
	Together my crew and I weigh approximately 110kgs. With regards to the kicker - if i crank it on when we're overpowered it'll obviously flatten the main but also bring the leech into play, how do these two factors weigh up?

Prince Buster Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 15 Dec 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1146	Post Options Post Reply Quote Prince Buster Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 30 May 06 at 9:25pm
	how much do you and you're crew weigh? id say you'd want to crank on the kicker upwind as you get overpowered but pretty slack when you're going at you're optimum upwind speed. The trouble with cleating the main and just pinching is that you tend to use a lot of rudder as the boat heels and that's just a handbrake and seriously affects you're upwind speed. I'm hardly a 200 expert but it's just what i feel might be best
	international moth - "what what?"

Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Posted: 30 May 06 at 9:24pm
	Having the main cleated and pinching sounds like possibly the worst thing ive heard! If you dont mind playing around with your mast then it could possibly be worth angling your spreaders further back as to put more bend in your mast which should help flatten out your sail. I dont really know Rs200 specifics but my general rule of thumb for being overpowered has been grab the downhaul and just KEEP CRANKING it on!! Play the main as much as you need to to deal with the wind and try to get the crew to play the jib in sync with the main. As for how much kicker you should use, i'l let a 200 sailor answer that one. Doug

Holly Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 30 May 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 17	Post Options Post Reply Quote Holly Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 30 May 06 at 9:18pm
	I invested in my RS200 a few months ago having only helmed singlehanders before and my crew and I really enjoy racing it. However - we struggle with weight in anything more than a force 2!! I have received conflicting views on how to depower and keep the boat flat on the beat, I always crank the cunningham and outhaul on but: - use lots or little kicker? - play the main or sail with the main cleated and constantly pinch? Technique will obviously vary slightly dependant on the conditions (wind strength, waves etc.) but any help will be greatly received!