RS 400 Tack Line

Originally posted by JimC Originally posted by Hornet BTW - pulling your pole out before windward mark rounding is against class rules!   I don't see that in the class rules unless I am missing something.

You will have to tie a line to the end of the tack line and pull the tack line from the pole (you may have to cut the outboard knot off), you will also have to take the end cap off and cut the inboard knot off and then pull it from the pulley and scrap and replace the line as you won't be able to undo it.Keep the end that you cut off, push the new line through the pulley now measure where the knots were or Leave extra length after the knot and tape it to your slave line and pull back through the pole and replace your end cap Tie a figure of eight aprox where you think and try the kite. If the kite doesn't go into chute fully you need to move the outboard knot closer to the kite, if the pole doesn't retract fully move the knot closer to the pole.

I've heard various opinions of why the one string systems don't work very well on 400's, but I think most people who actually sail 400s concede the two strings are better in reality on a 400.
Yes, we know the one string system on 800s and other boats work fine. That's irrelevant.
The 400 with one string pole can ocassionally throw the pole too far forwards, letting the wing wang lines fall off the inboard end. This can ruin your day.
You can prevent this with another bit of string, but this can tangle apparently.

It's possible people have sorted this on the very newest boats, if so I'd be pleased to hear about it.
But I'd ignore random anecdotes about what works on other classes!

Never happened to me on a 400 on a lake. 'tis only a baby kite and a baby pole.

On a trapeze boat I prefer one string systems, because if you've got to rush into the boat and do everything at once it had better be one string. But on a lower powered sit out boat like the 400 its often possible to get the pole out as you approach the mark, leaving you with probably two heaves less rope to get the kite up, which ought to make for a faster hoist. So on slower boats and especially inland there's a good case to consider a separate line for the pole.

Edited by JimC - 10 May 17 at 7:13pm