set up for RS500 and Laser 3000

Originally posted by NickA On recent and modified 3000s the jib halyard adjustment is 2:1 so can be adjusted on the water

The 3000 Class website is now back up again at www.3000class.org.uk , and very pretty it looks too.  One or two bits (like the Y&Y boat test) still to be added.

Forgive me for asking a possibly stupid question, but how do you adjust the rig tension ?

I’d been sailing my (V)3000 with about 140kg of rig tension and I understand the Laser 3000 was supposed to be set at 136kg, so not far off.  Actually I never measured it until recently and just used to pull on rig tension until the jib luff (forestay) stopped bobbing about in gusts - good enough if you don't have a loos gauge.

The RS500 is pretty similar to the 3000 (though heavier and with bigger sails) and uses up to 180kg!

I have a personal theory that my boat is faster in lighter winds with less rig tension (powers up the jib) but I wouldn’t bet on it. 

My latest setttings table, for the V3000 is as follows (all at 140kg measured on the shrouds about 30cm up from the plates).

·        Shroud plate holes are numbered from the top - but I'll be everyone's shrouds are different lengths!

Shroud plate hole	Rake	Rig tension,	Comments
Hole 5, back	6.39m	140kg	Vertical (the jib head is right at the block on the mast on my boat). If the wind were light enough to use this setting I’d drop the rig tension and use hole 6 .. probably
Hole 6, back	6.36m	140kg
Hole 7, back	6.30m	140kg
Hole 8, back	6.24m	140kg	My normal single handing setting up to the top of F3.
Hole 9, back	6.19m	140kg	Full possible rake without owning shorter shrouds.

 Mr Medway once told me he uses 6.17m of rake … so either he runs less tension or has shorter shrouds.  He is an upwind flier and points very high indeed - but I've caught him up down wind occasionally.

PS: the class web site is finally up and running again at www.3000class.org.uk

Edited by NickA - 19 Mar 13 at 7:36pm

There doesn't seem to be  magic rake setting for the 3k, but I've been moderately successful with lots, and it looks good! Try two to three full holes up from the bottom of the shroud adjusters, and pull on as much rig tension as you can without resorting to special tricks.  That seems about right. As to spreaders, unless you are heavy, just one hole out at the tangs and plenty of rake so that they induce a fair bit of pre-bend - the Hyde main is pretty full cut. Leech tension is critical, so keep playing the main/kicker on the beat to keep the top tell-tale on the break. Boat flat and crew weight uncomfortably far forward until you're fully trapezing.