RS200 sailing

I think Rick sails a 200 a bit so I've been hoping for his response or from lucy as I think she's had several top results but as I've had a couple of top 3 results at Fat Face events I guess I should comment.

First, you are a bit light - around 17st when the real top crews such as the Hewitsons are around 20st. I sail with 21st but I'm still not as quick as them in a blow - in fact only last weekend, they won a very windy (F5 gusting F7) event with me third - and they were quicker upwind. Why? - well a lot of it has little to do with their rig. First they work very hard - so you need to be fit, and able to hike the whole race. Second they sail as a team - so in every big gust , both sails are eased a little - (and together) and they hike even harder and then they sheet both sails in again - together. They rarely seem to 'stuff' and in fact twice sailed low and out through my lee after rounding a leeward mark behind me. their tacking is smooth and coordinated and of course they (usually) go the right way.

Maniac has most of the rig advice about right.

In a real blow such as at the weekend, we almost all sail with increased rake. I'd guess you'll need to rake earlier and even more than most. To lose power, flatten the sail by applying lots of kicker and even more downhaul (cringle touching the boom if needed) as this does open the leach. The main is rarely sheeted in more than a foot off centreline, and often out as far as the corner of the transom. Make sure your bridle isn't too short as this will increase leach tension and sheet loads. In these conditions, the Jib is never sheeted max tight as when main is sheeted out, an oversheeted jib will drag you sideways. Also very important to have the Jib track right to the back to open it's leach and avoid choking the slot.

Sit slightly further back in boat and if you need to stuff, don't 'saw' the tiller from side to side, try to find a comfortable angle with say the front 100mm of the jib just about backing and try to settle at that angle.

All easier said than done, but at the end of the day, just sailing, gaining experience and hopefullly a little weight will pay off for you eventually.

It might also be an idea to ask around the fleet and get a crewing job with a top sailor if you can. And of course make sure you capitalise on your weight advantage when the conditions suit you!

Good luck.

I believe the 200's have some very good training days, so best advice would be to get along to one of these. Failing that, two ladies sail one at PchSC, and they learned a lot by going to a couple of local events. I know it's a lot of effort and can be difficult to arrange, but it really pays. (Lou has two kids,so she obviously had to sort them).

Oh, and I just thought: join the 200 mailing list, if it's anything like the 300 and Vario ones, there's no end of good advice!

Holly,

Definately make sure you crank on your cunnigham as this will flatten your sail in conjuction with pulling on your outhaul and when it really gets windy then crank your kicker on but remeber to release before you bear away around the top mark or you may need to invest in a new boom. (Found that out on a laser on a windy day)

It is also criticle that you and your crew work as a team. Easeing both the main and jib simultaniously (something like that) to keep flow attached to the sails and reduce side ways slippage. Again make sure you have plenty of jib luff tension and have your jib car as far back as possible to get the correct shape. If you get hit by a gust hke hard and sail with the first 1/4 of the jib backed but then remeber to ease and re trim when you come back off.

Battern tension on the main from my experiance on Cats in light winds we have a loose to medium tension to give the sail some shape. medium winds lots of tension to accelerate the air flow but then in strong winds little tension to stop the sail from having such a deep shape.

Correct me if im wrong this is just my veiw.

Eat lots sail fast. Should be untouchable on the down wind leg going very deep.