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Double handed racing
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Racecruiser View Drop Down
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Joined: 24 Sep 07
Location: United Kingdom
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Posts: 10 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Racecruiser Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Double handed racing
    Posted: 04 Oct 07 at 6:41pm

Thanks Stefan and Asok - useful stuff. I'll post something after the race with a few observations and it certainly gets over the crew organisation issue when you only have one other to sort out! Hope it's not blowing force 7 next w/e.

Stefan thanks for the email too and look forward to catching up and sailing with you again soon.

Cheers!

 

 

 

 
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ASok View Drop Down
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Joined: 26 Sep 07
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Posts: 739 		Post Options Post Options   Quote ASok Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Oct 07 at 1:05pm

You've done the right thing - racing yachts short handed is the best way to do it.  Its far more enjoyable in my opinion.

Up wind is obviously the easy one.  Downwind you just need to know your limitations.  Give yourselves plenty of time and go deep on the gybes and drops to give your 2nd man plenty of time to complete the move with as little load in the sheets / kite as possible.

The tiller lock should help things.  I've used similar when sailing a J24 two handed.  Well actually it was a bit of string tied to the aft cleats! 

If you do start taking things seriously there are some fantastic autohelms on the market that are really reliable.  Especially ones that have an auto gybe button - if you trust it, the helm can go and asisst with sheeting in or gathering a kite.  I've used these on a tiller driven J105.

Good luck.

 

 
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Stefan Lloyd View Drop Down
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Joined: 03 Aug 04
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Posts: 1599 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Stefan Lloyd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Oct 07 at 7:40am

I've done these events quite a bit on a 707 - probably a similar sized kite to yours. Think dinghy techniques for hoist/gybe/drop - helm handles sheet and guy, steers with tiller between the legs. Gybing the main is probably best left to the crew after they have done the pole. 20 knots was about my personal limit for being able to handle the helm that way through the gybe, bearing in mind that if is all goes badly wrong, you are probably going to have an epic sorting it out again.

You need to think ahead several times longer than with a full crew but you can actually sail the boat surprisingly efficiently. I never used a tiller lock but that might come in handy hoisting the main, which was actually the hardest maneouvre of the day. Have fun. 
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Racecruiser View Drop Down
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Joined: 24 Sep 07
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Posts: 10 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Racecruiser Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Oct 07 at 8:51pm

My first post since registering - the excitement is building!! 

I've entered the R S'ton YC Solent Double on 13/10 with my moderately racy 30 footer, coventional kite, fractional rig, no runners, no self steering (but I have bought a tiller lock thingy). Any top tips from anyone out there? 

 
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