light wind sailing

   I have noticed that contenders are unlikely to sail to their handicap in light winds so you may find you loose places if you are in a handicap race. However the other replies to your post are technically correct which will help your overall postion.

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Kdruce Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 03 Sep 10 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Post Options Post Reply Quote Kdruce Report Post Quote Reply Topic: light wind sailing Posted: 06 Nov 10 at 9:13pm
	I have noticed that contenders are unlikely to sail to their handicap in light winds so you may find you loose places if you are in a handicap race. However the other replies to your post are technically correct which will help your overall postion.

Jamesd Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 01 Feb 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 377	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jamesd Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Nov 10 at 11:11pm
	i asked this question once. i thought i was sailing very well, but just needed a little pace in the really light stuff. the answer i got from a very very good sailor was: "relax, bow down, slacken everything off, let the boat sail itself and NEVER EVER chase a dying breeze!" i did as i was told and made a massive difference. It sounds simple but alot of people get to tense, pull things too tight and lose concentration/temper. As for the chasing dying breeze part, i looked at it as old man talk, but the more i thought about it the more it made sense.

mattmd Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 23 Mar 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 151	Post Options Post Reply Quote mattmd Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Nov 10 at 9:45pm
	Yes no worries, im quick round the boat so i did try quckly getting to the back and back up the front again. But thanks for that
	Matt MD Contender GBR-620

winging it Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 22 Mar 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3958	Post Options Post Reply Quote winging it Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Nov 10 at 9:41pm
	Matt most people tack behind but gybe in front, for the reasons you describe. The good guys seem to 'walk' round the mainsheet tower and under the boom in a way I have yet to master. But you can gybe without going back, just make sure you keep hold of the tiller or you're doomed!
	the same, but different...

mattmd Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 23 Mar 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 151	Post Options Post Reply Quote mattmd Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Nov 10 at 9:18pm
	I see your point used to sail laser, however with a contender being 16 ft long you really do slow down considerably when you move back in the boat, I just think the boats are too different to compare.
	Matt MD Contender GBR-620

Sailaboat Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Newbie Joined: 05 Oct 10 Location: UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sailaboat Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Nov 10 at 4:06pm
	I should have said that I sail a Solo, which is different, but sail setting techniques are the same across the classes I have found. I always tack behind the mainsheet. I think being too far forward slows the boat down as the trim is radically altered which affect the waterline length and maneouverability. I try to use the tiller as little as possible, when very light roll the boat a bit to steer, mindful of rule 42 though! Rudder is a better brake than steering aid!
	www.Sailaboat.tv for high quality training videos on sailing

mattmd Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 23 Mar 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 151	Post Options Post Reply Quote mattmd Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Nov 10 at 3:58pm
	Do you tack in front of of behind the mainsheet in very very light winds? I tryed both last weekend with mixed results ; In front of seem to stop me getting stuck in irons and seemed fast but got tiller stuck and had to move back to to slip it round And Behind slowed the boat but could pump the boat faster and didnt have problems flicking the tiller round and was pritty quick at getting to the front of the boat again
	Matt MD Contender GBR-620

Sailaboat Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Newbie Joined: 05 Oct 10 Location: UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sailaboat Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Nov 10 at 2:07pm
	For me, leach tension is critical. When the wind eases, ease the mainsheet a little. This frees off the upper part of the leach and seems to help pointing. As you start to hike, pull the main tight again to tighten the leach.
	www.Sailaboat.tv for high quality training videos on sailing

patj Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 16 Jul 04 Location: Wiltshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 642	Post Options Post Reply Quote patj Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Oct 10 at 7:39pm
	Sit STILL - every movement stops the boat. And none of this constant rocking that's prevalent on the Thames - Rule 42. Judge by tell tales and don't rely on the burgee as the wind at the top of the mast and at the boom level will be doing two different things and the wind won't be doing the same thing in two places - in those conditions we've often seen the flags on the marks all pointing in different directions on Shearwater (small lake) and boats running towards each other under symmetric spinnakers! Edited by patj - 13 Oct 10 at 7:44pm

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Oct 10 at 9:07am
	Concentrate really, really hard, too...it is very easy to miss the tiny variations in the wind when getting bored, and a missed lift will cost you loads of ground, whereas you can be sure you can't miss the headers! So up wind, your gaze needs to be fixed on the telltales like a hawk. If the boat is heeled to leeward, it not only allows for less wetted surface, but makes sailing up on the lifts really easy, with not too much rudder movement, which is slow. Downside is that you'll need to bring the boat flat to bear off in the headers, or the rudder is fighting the hull shape, and that is slow, too.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686