Idea's for a talk

   Hi Guys

If you were to attend a talk on 'Sails', what kind of things would you like to 

hear about?  Sail design, sail making, sail repair, a combination of all three 

topics?  Any idea's of what you personally are interested in and would like to 

hear about, please do tell!  

Doug H

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Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Topic: Idea's for a talk Posted: 18 Dec 08 at 7:48pm
	Hi Guys If you were to attend a talk on 'Sails', what kind of things would you like to hear about? Sail design, sail making, sail repair, a combination of all three topics? Any idea's of what you personally are interested in and would like to hear about, please do tell! Doug H

radixon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 27 Oct 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2407	Post Options Post Reply Quote radixon Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Dec 08 at 8:40pm
	Hear, I'd like to see!! Can I ask, are you doing this as part of a Dinghy Instructor talk? If so use a boat, more interesting to see and look at. The best boat to use is a fully battened boat, a 200 for example. Lay it on its side, chuck ping pong balls or similar on sail, Crank on the kicker, see what happens, crank on outhaul, cunningham etc etc.

Webmuppet Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 11 Mar 06 Location: Suffolk Online Status: Offline Posts: 534	Post Options Post Reply Quote Webmuppet Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Dec 08 at 9:03pm
	I would like to see some kind of demonstration of sail design, repair and manufacture .....however in reality I'm sure that I would benefit from sail shape demo as mentioned by Richard. I've seen this kind of sail trimming demonstration carried out using an RS200, a Xenon and a Laser 4K at various places (Porto Heli, Minorca, Dinghy Show, Local training days etc) - I'm always desperate to soak up the information yet somehow it never seems to 'stick' hence I end up going to next opportunity in the vain hope that the info won't go in one ear and out the other ! Nigel
	I am the milkman of human kindness, I will leave an extra pint (Billy Bragg) Graduate 2530 'Galaxy'

timnoyce Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 05 Aug 04 Location: Hampshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 1991	Post Options Post Reply Quote timnoyce Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Dec 08 at 9:13pm
	How about sticking sail numbers on an optimist sail? That's a pretty technical task
	BEARFOOT DESIGN Cherub 2648 - Comfortably Numb

Jon Emmett Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 15 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 988	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jon Emmett Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Dec 08 at 9:33pm
	At the moment the most popular talk I do is on the "new" rules.
	Be Your Own Tactics Coach

Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Posted: 18 Dec 08 at 11:05pm
	Radixon I my aim isn't to do a talk on sail setting and adjustment as much as the making and designing of the sail itself. And no this isn't a talk so far as one that might be done by a sailing instructor. To everyone - My current plan is to make it a 3 segment talk. The first being on the putting together and making/engineering of a sail which could then lead into my 2nd segment which could be basic repairs = one's you could do yourselves....? The 3rd segment would be the basics of sail design, what I might take into consideration when designing and how that ends up in the shape of the sail. This would be more of a 'subject of interest' talk as apposed to a 'You need to know this to do well' style coaching talk. The other Idea I had was to bring along with me a 90cm width roll of brown packing paper, split people into groups and then show them and get them in groups how to design/make their own sail. Something simply like a Jib....? Again - any idea's??? Doug H P.s Noycey, I'm keeping well clear of optimist sails, they're more hassle than they're worth :-) The term 'Anal' doesn't event slightly comprehend the optimist class rules. Edited by Doug.H

Medway Maniac Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 13 May 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2788	Post Options Post Reply Quote Medway Maniac Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Dec 08 at 12:00am
	Surely Segment Three should come first? So you'd have design, build & repair in the natural order. I think it would also be interesting to hear about the latest materials and how they affect the design. And how to incorporate battens in the right pattern so that they properly support the roach while still giving the right sail curvature, especially with regard to square headed sails (tricky, I gather). Actually, anything that would help us distinguish a well-engineered sail from a one that looked flash but didn't work.
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Contender 541 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 05 Dec 05 Location: Burton on Trent Online Status: Offline Posts: 1402	Post Options Post Reply Quote Contender 541 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Dec 08 at 8:05am
	I would have to agree with the above. Design - Build - Repair is the natural order of things In addition, the difference between Dakron and performance composite (evolution from one to the other would be an interesting side topic) as would a Pin head and Square head discussion.
	When you find a big kettle of crazy it's probably best not to stir it - Pointy Haired Boss Crew on 505 8780

Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Posted: 19 Dec 08 at 6:03pm
	In reply to the order of the 3 segments. Design and then make is the process I take in a loft naturally. However, not the process that you would learn in. Design is so much easier to take on board and understand once you know how the sail goes together in the first place. I fact once a sail maker fully understands all the aspects of sail making, they can pretty much teach themselves how to design. But this raises a good question for my talk, should I go with what I think is the best process for learning or make the talk a process of what I personally would go through?? I know some of you think design should naturally come first, but I cant help thinking that that assumes a good level of understanding for sails in the first place....? Which some listening might not have. I just don't want people to feel left out as if it's an elitist talk for those who already have a good understanding of the sails on their boat. Many thanks for responses so far. Doug H

Medway Maniac Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 13 May 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2788	Post Options Post Reply Quote Medway Maniac Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Dec 08 at 8:13pm
	Only you know exactly what you want to say, Doug. Ignore us, feel the force!
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