Two sail reaching

   All said above is good, but in your boat, if it's windy, set the jib and then give the main to your crew.
The crew can play the main quicker than you (as they have 2 hands free). This will help to keep the boat flatter, which is absolutely key to speed, especially in a chined boat.
Also, the load on the mainsheet will help keep the crew planted onto the gunwale.

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Skiffybob Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 04 Dec 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 842	Post Options Post Reply Quote Skiffybob Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Two sail reaching Posted: 08 Jul 10 at 8:54pm
	All said above is good, but in your boat, if it's windy, set the jib and then give the main to your crew. The crew can play the main quicker than you (as they have 2 hands free). This will help to keep the boat flatter, which is absolutely key to speed, especially in a chined boat. Also, the load on the mainsheet will help keep the crew planted onto the gunwale.
	12ft Skiff - Gordon Keeble and the Furry Fly-by AC - GBR271 - Whoosh B49 - Island Alchemy

redback Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 16 Mar 04 Location: Tunbridge Wells Online Status: Offline Posts: 1502	Post Options Post Reply Quote redback Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Jul 10 at 5:02pm
	It depends a lot on whether its tight or broad (obviously not very broad or you'd put the kite up)and that is also very dependent on wind strength. As a rule there is tight and that's too tight to really bear away and head up in gusts and lulls, so the technique is plenty of kicker and play the sails and run backwards and forwards along the gunwhale to keep the boat at optimum trim. The helm will get pretty tired from playing the main to keep the boat level. Broader and you'll be bearing away in the gust to get a bit of depth so that you can keep the speed up by heading up in the lulls. Again a lot of gunwhale running required. You need a bit of kicker so the sail goes in and out like a barn door. The helm won't get quite so tired from playing the main since it'll be a bit lighter but it'll still be going in and out like a yoyo. He'll be using rather larger helm movements and its very important to keep the boat upright because it won't bear away in the gusts if its allowed to heel. In both cases the crew should be playing the jib in sync with the main and its important not to oversheet. Its a waste to undersheet but at least the boat is more likely to accelerate in the gusts if the sail is a bit on the slack side. In summary, if its tight, its point the boat at the mark and play the sheets to keep it powered but level. If its a bit broader start driving off in the gusts and heading up in the lulls and play the sheets to keep the boat level. In the faster boats beware of the pitch-pole.

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: 08 Jul 10 at 12:08pm
	Totally agree with Neal_g on the 5oh, I never cleat the jib on a 2 sail and work the tell tails as the wind comes forward / goes aft as we accelerate / decelerate. On a 2 sail, basically treat the jib as you would a Spinnaker - with TLC always keeping the sails flowing and the power on. If a bear away is needed, react to it - you will have seen it on the tell tails and fly it as the boat healed
	When you find a big kettle of crazy it's probably best not to stir it - Pointy Haired Boss Crew on 505 8780

Neal_g Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Far too distracted from work Joined: 07 Oct 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 323	Post Options Post Reply Quote Neal_g Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Jul 10 at 10:53am
	good thing for your crew to remember on 2 sail reaches is that he should be playing the jib all the way along as if it was the spinnaker keeping the tell tales flying all the time and dont cleat it
	(Redoubt Sc) Miracle 4040 GP14 13407 Crewsaver phase 2 range now available to buy online on at http://www.gibsonsails.com

ellistine Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 06 Mar 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 762	Post Options Post Reply Quote ellistine Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 10 at 11:28pm
	Had another impossible reach in tonights race but managed it a lot better. Had some kicker, but not tight and bore away in the gusts. Much quicker. Thanks all. Have a new question. I'll start another thread.

Skiffybob Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 04 Dec 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 842	Post Options Post Reply Quote Skiffybob Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 10 at 11:02pm
	With those reaches, you needed to ease the kicker just a little to introduce a bit of twist in the main, but not too much. Easing the cunno also helps as you put more power into the main.
	12ft Skiff - Gordon Keeble and the Furry Fly-by AC - GBR271 - Whoosh B49 - Island Alchemy

les5269 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 11 Oct 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1530	Post Options Post Reply Quote les5269 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 10 at 7:37pm
	Use the Jib and main together easing and bringing them in together. This is difficult and takes practice, but once you get it, you'll notice a big difference in how the boat reacts. Something else worth trying is pointing up the wave and bearing off on the back of it to accellerate. Don't be to harsh with this though or you'll lose you crew! I'd say keep some kicker on and loosen the cunningham, don't keep loads of kicker on, just enough to keep the boom flat.
	49er 531 & 5000 5025 and a mirror(now gone to mirror heaven)! Grafham water Sailing Club The greatest inland sailing in the country

Jon711 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 04 May 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 465	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jon711 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 10 at 6:00pm
	I would also suggest that if needing to spill, that the jib and main are spilled equally. When gust hits bear away, but, you need to get the balance right that, you do not bear away too much, that is where the equal spill comes in. It does take a lot of coordination between helm and crew, but if you have been sailing together for a few events you should have that!! A few weekends ago, we were sailing at Bough Beech when HUGE gusts and 30 degree windshifts came in, the helm couldn't feather the boat fast enough, and I was spilling the jib - a lot is down to feel, and experience at both ends of the boat... Jon

craiggo Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 01 Apr 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1810	Post Options Post Reply Quote craiggo Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 10 at 4:10pm
	Keep kicker on, otherwise when a gust hits your rig will spill the wind and you wont accelerate. Only ease the kicker if you are constantly overpowered otherwise play the sheet and steer to keep the boat flat and moving as fast as possible. Only as you approach the mark where you can bear away should you ease kicker to facilitate a smoother platform for your crew to hoist.

GybeFunny Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 27 Oct 09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 403	Post Options Post Reply Quote GybeFunny Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 10 at 1:50pm
	I would say loose kicker, boom near the centreline, when you get a gust the boom will go up and out and is less likely to catch in the water. Bear off a little to get it planing and head up a bit once planing and play the mainsheet loads to keep the boat flat or possibly a small amount of leeward heel.