The Tasar v the Icon

Just the method where you swap hands at the end, tick. The teeth method should have gone out when dentists decided they liked swimming pools and Jags.

Slippiness was not something I had an issue with Grumpf (and I sailed that boat several times). Falling over laughing as the crew fell in was an issue though as was being thrown out the back (almost) when it accelerated out of a tack or gybe.

maybe you farted and a little bit of lube came out?

.... and there SHOULD be a small but decent halyard turning block (Harken on the spec list) at the top of the jib.  If missing it is well worth replacing or getting one sent to you.

Jib tension ?  Not a problem and not needed bar-tight ...  Icon can even climb up plate glass if set up correctly.  DO NOT pinch though except for tactical advantage if you need to squeeze things up.  VMG is usually better slightly lower and as often as not see you planing or marginal planing upwind if conditions suit.

Also coming out of each tack DO NOT oversheet - you will kill the main as I suspect you are already doing.  The front 300mm of the jib foot should follow the edge of the deck until speed builds up - crews occasionally seem to think if sheeting is 'good' then lots of sheeting must be 'even better'.  (Same thing applies to Tasars as well btw)..  Next sail try this out and feel the difference - you can come in from this default once the speed is there but choke the main off at your peril !

Mike L.

PS - I can see this thread sub-part (the GRF) one will get even more interesting with time      

Main can be sheeted 'almost' central... it is the jib handling that sounds like it needs a bit of TLC and attention until you can both 'see it' instinctively.  The strop set-up on the back is critical .. a rear traveller is not needed as you do have a jib (which helps of course) and you should not really be block to block in the vast majority of conditions.  

Most Icon newbies oversheet at first ...    Coming out of tacks you do not pin the main in .. use kicker a bit more and do not sheet in hard until you have decent speed on - let the boat accelerate and then bring it up tighter onto the wind.  You have to play the main and dump enough to keep the boat 'on its feet' in decent breeze - the jib really is large enough to keep you tracking forward very effectively as each gust hits .. so keep it reasonably level and moving forward with an exagerated 'main dump' as you learn the boat.... It does not have to be totally flat (like say a Merlin) but you should still aim at 'flat.'   So use the kicker a bit more than you might think and dump/sheet the main more than you are used to .....the sheet loads are pretty light so it is no hassle really.  

Decent Merlins will beat you on the water round the complete course ..... they should.  But if they make a couple of mistakes you should 'ave most of them when they do...    Being that much more complex the potential for making those mistakes is of course a tad higher.   Not a 'knock' that one - just the reality.

And sort out the non-slip situation somehow - it is either your kit or the boat needs a 'sort'.  Does not matter the cause really.... feeling 'secure' is faster !

Mike L.