Garda Tips

Originally posted by redback This is a picture of us - we're the red hull!  Look very closely and you'll see us.  Have you noticed that none of the others look completely comfortable - that's because it was 29knots.

that looks like 2003..in which case the blue/yellow kite unless I'm much mistake was sailed into 3rd place overall..and 'we're in control' came 4th...still that race was comfortable for me having nailed the bullett...


Edited by laser4000

Are launching at Torbole or Riva?  Each very different - I can only advise about Riva and that is tricky.  Essentailly you get in the boat whilst on the slope.  The wooden slope stops when its 10cm below the water and drops away to 30m.  The wind is straight onshore and about f5.  So your helpers push you, the boat and the trolley off the end.  You immediately get hard on the wind and sail away.  You mustn't bodge it because its rocks all around.  The trolley is recovered by the helpers who hold onto a rope tied to the axle.  Coming ashore you sail into a cove to the west of the slip and drop the main.  You then position yourself in the que to sail dead downwind and up the slope (which is carpeted).  There can be quite a chop so you step off the boat as it touches down.

As for the racing its great fun to have a steady f5 (and I mean steady) so you can set up a deep kite reach with the crew fully extended and stay that way for a couple of kilometers - which only takes a few minutes.  Its not tactical though, it pays to head for the cliffs, so you need a start which will enable you to tack onto port very early.  You tack just before you impact the cliffs and tack back if you are not on the layline for the windward mark.

On the downwind leg, again you need to be able to gybe early for the cliffs, however its very tempting to just keep blasting at high speed on starboard - but it doesn't pay.

The great thing is the strong steady wind - you can sail easily in wind which is one force up on your usual limit just because it is so steady.  Consequently you go very fast.  Even upwind its very fast - I recall sometimes jumping off a crest, missing the next one and landing on the next.  That's tremendously punishing on the boat and the sailors so very easy to break something (like your neck).  We broke a 5mm bolt which controls the rake of the spreaders I'm surprised the mast was able to generate forces great enough to do that!

This is a picture of us - we're the red hull!  Look very closely and you'll see us.  Have you noticed that none of the others look completely comfortable - that's because it was 29knots.

Originally posted by Paul B 5.  Attempting to steal a peddalo (incredibly funny when drunk) will land you in jail for a few days, with some nasty bruises to (from) boot, and an expensive court settlement some months later.

Is this not a nomination for most embarassing things done while drunk?

The marks tend to be in the same place every year on permanent lines, as lake about half a mile deep. They tend to prefer the right hand side course if sailing from Riva. They rarely call OCS, and hit port tack as soon as posible. This takes you into a small bay on the right, during practice find a line to tack for the lay line. The first one to it will be first at the windward mark. I have seen boats port tack from mid line, duck 10 or so boats, and come out with big smiles as they hit the lay line first, not for the feint hearted. Launch before the wind comes in, its the black line that appears down lake just after lunch, can get tricky to get out once the ora has arrived. Launching from Riva is a laugh, you have to launch off a floating slip, with about a hundred foot drop off the end, so no chance holding the boat especially after the wind has come in. Tie a long rope to your trolley, get someone to hold it, then its a bit like a bobsleigh start, bit of a worry with a t foil rudder no doubt! Hopefully the guys behind will recue your trolleyfor you.

Best place to sail in the world!!

 

don't win  the  bastardo  trophy and be    name your trolley