New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Am I making progress? RS600
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Am I making progress? RS600

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
dohertpk View Drop Down
Posting king
Posting king


Joined: 28 Sep 12
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 172
Post Options Post Options   Quote dohertpk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Am I making progress? RS600
    Posted: 08 Nov 14 at 7:37pm
Hi all,
I've had my 600 a year now and have no way to gauge my progress. 20 knots of breeze is about the limit of my ability and I've yet to work up the nerve to take her out in more. It's very disheartening to rig her up and then have to take her apart again and downgrade to a Laser when the breeze gets too fresh. What kind of winds do others sail these kind of boats in (600s, 700s, Mustos)? I know I should probably MTFU and just push her out in more breeze, but I worry about monopolising the rescue boats at our club.

Thanks as always,
Peter
Back to Top
Paramedic View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 27 Jan 06
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 929
Post Options Post Options   Quote Paramedic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Nov 14 at 8:20pm
i think a steady 20kts is pretty windy personally, and heading into this time of year i'd say is about the point where the enjoyment tends to start to be overridden by survival, depending on the rest of the weather of course.

i would temper the disheartenment with the though that of all the people in the country who sail in all classes i bet less than 5% would be able to take a 600 out and get round competantly in more than 20 knots.

i'd suggest that the time to mtfu is about april/may next year, in the meantime consolidate what you've learned and maybe push it a bit on the odd friendly day that we might get.

boats like 600s are very rewarding when you get it right but can be singularly soul destroying when it goes less than well!!
Back to Top
dohertpk View Drop Down
Posting king
Posting king


Joined: 28 Sep 12
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 172
Post Options Post Options   Quote dohertpk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Nov 14 at 8:31pm
Thanks for that - I do love the boat so it's very frustrating to have to leave her in the dinghy park. I've been watching Youtube vids of people throwing Mustos and 700s round in 25 odd knots, but maybe they have years of experience? 
Back to Top
rich96 View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 20 Jan 05
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 596
Post Options Post Options   Quote rich96 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Nov 14 at 8:15am
A true 20knts is almost Force 6 - that's a lot for any dinghy - let alone a 600

The 600 is way more twitchy than the 700 or Musto so don't be too hard on yourself.

Much better to leave the boat ashore when you are not totally confident - no point breaking it or yourself or, worse, getting worried by it

The best way to get confident in those conditions would be to sail (not race) and practise without the pressure of other boats around you. Get competent in the boat handling.

But - don't forget that there are lots of us who would struggle in our own boats in that breeze - you aren't alone !


Back to Top
Jack Sparrow View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 08 Feb 05
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2965
Post Options Post Options   Quote Jack Sparrow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Nov 14 at 3:32pm
Dude, just get yourself a Farr 3.7 and revel in proper wind!
Back to Top
kneewrecker View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 09 Apr 14
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1586
Post Options Post Options   Quote kneewrecker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Nov 14 at 3:58pm
Originally posted by Jack Sparrow

Dude, just get yourself a Farr 3.7 and revel in proper wind!

+1 
Back to Top
Rupert View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 11 Aug 04
Location: Whitefriars sc
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8956
Post Options Post Options   Quote Rupert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Nov 14 at 5:07pm
Blimey, worrying about not being a true man coz you can't sail a 600 in 20+ knots? By then I'm wimping out of sailing much more stable boats - though the Minisail is just coming into its own.

Unless you are referring to forum wind speeds, of course - that is what the MPS and 700 sailors who are out in 25 knots are measuring by, most of the time. And I'll be happy in my Lightning in 30.
Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
Back to Top
Jack Sparrow View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 08 Feb 05
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2965
Post Options Post Options   Quote Jack Sparrow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Nov 14 at 6:07pm
Thing is when I was learning to sail 20 knts wasn't that much wind. It was a 'beginners gale' not a gale for someone that can obviously handle a boat well enough to sail a trapeze boat. Which means he ain't a beginner! Boats have got more and more over canvased and more and more unstable in the search of speed. And more and more people find it difficult to sail them when theres a decent bit of wind around. 


Back to Top
dohertpk View Drop Down
Posting king
Posting king


Joined: 28 Sep 12
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 172
Post Options Post Options   Quote dohertpk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Nov 14 at 6:11pm
Well it's not so much worry as frustration at having to leave her in the dinghy park and rig up a Laser. I hope to separate the mast soon so I can rig the baby sail and take her out in F6 and above. I had considered a Farr 3.7, but I'd be at the heavier end of the suggested sailor weight. Besides, part of the great appeal of the 600, apart from the speed, is the challenge of learning to sail the thing. It's not the capsizing that's the issue in the breezy stuff - unless I'm doing something stupid the only capsizes I usually have are to windward and, more often than not, a water start is possible thereafter. What I really struggle with in 20knots+ is getting stuck in irons. I sail in a harbour with a lot of leadmine traffic - it can be very nerve wracking to find yourself going backwards while a fleet of yachts bears down on top of you.
Back to Top
rich96 View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 20 Jan 05
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 596
Post Options Post Options   Quote rich96 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Nov 14 at 6:24pm
Why would you want to go out in a 600 in a proper Force 6 ?

Are you sure that you really mean Force 6 ?

You would really have to be a properly properly ace 600 sailor to do that

This weekend we had gusts of maybe F6 and that was enough to blow over very well sailed Wayfarers !

Edited by rich96 - 10 Nov 14 at 6:26pm
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.665y
Copyright ©2001-2010 Web Wiz
Change your personal settings, or read our privacy policy