Muppets in Irons.

So today I've decided to name my boat, I'm going to call it Morphy Richards...
Probably the breeziest of races I've done on the sea and sure enough I'm in irons, the threshold is a bit higher than previous boats but with puffs of 20 mph today and a bit of a cross swell running I found my self in irons as the gun went after tacking onto the line, I managed to just get it going but it took ages to get momentum going, then after a great session dicing with my pal in his Phantom and my chum from the lake in his Laser, surfing excellent waves down the reaches, I head up at the bottom mark straight into irons on the harden up. Didn't even tack, it is so annoying drifting back downwind especially with a spring tide running, really irritating and it happened about half a dozen times, no sooner than I claw myself back a bit, I'm straight into irons, it seemed to happen more on one tack (tacking into the oncoming waves)than the other but it did occur on both tacks.

I've never really gotten to grips with what you're supposed to do, I think I've worked out a procedure now by pushing the boom out to bring the boat more side on, but there must be techniques to stop it happening in the first place, the two other boats that it used to happen earlier in the wind range both had centreboards, so just kicking them back a bit used to help, but this one has a dagger.

So what are the alleged techniques, I'm told sheet out more before the tack, dump the kicker, windward heel, I found  forcing myself to get right round and as far forward as possible helped, but that's quite a journey in the EPS, off the rail back down the boat round the turret then back up the other side and I'm wondering if it's being exacerbated by this new thicker sheet I'm using for the main, it doesn't exactly glide through the blocks so the main doesn't naturally sheet out as fast as it did with the old mainsheet.

Anyway, what does the hive mind have to say about irons, what are your tricks, a) for not going in in the first place and b) when it inevitably happens and c)What expletives help, I found Ef U Cee Kay totally useless no matter how much I uttered it.

Or am I expecting too much of my weight versus a 9.4 sail? I mean it didn't happen every time so it must be possible, I must have some technique flaw..

Edited by G.R.F. - 16 Sep 12 at 3:23pm

Author	Message Share Topic Printable Version Delicious Digg Facebook Furl Google MySpace Newsvine reddit StumbleUpon Translate Twitter Windows Live Yahoo Bookmarks Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic
G.R.F. Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 10 Aug 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 4028	Post Options Post Reply Quote G.R.F. Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Muppets in Irons. Posted: 16 Sep 12 at 3:17pm
	So today I've decided to name my boat, I'm going to call it Morphy Richards... Probably the breeziest of races I've done on the sea and sure enough I'm in irons, the threshold is a bit higher than previous boats but with puffs of 20 mph today and a bit of a cross swell running I found my self in irons as the gun went after tacking onto the line, I managed to just get it going but it took ages to get momentum going, then after a great session dicing with my pal in his Phantom and my chum from the lake in his Laser, surfing excellent waves down the reaches, I head up at the bottom mark straight into irons on the harden up. Didn't even tack, it is so annoying drifting back downwind especially with a spring tide running, really irritating and it happened about half a dozen times, no sooner than I claw myself back a bit, I'm straight into irons, it seemed to happen more on one tack (tacking into the oncoming waves)than the other but it did occur on both tacks. I've never really gotten to grips with what you're supposed to do, I think I've worked out a procedure now by pushing the boom out to bring the boat more side on, but there must be techniques to stop it happening in the first place, the two other boats that it used to happen earlier in the wind range both had centreboards, so just kicking them back a bit used to help, but this one has a dagger. So what are the alleged techniques, I'm told sheet out more before the tack, dump the kicker, windward heel, I found forcing myself to get right round and as far forward as possible helped, but that's quite a journey in the EPS, off the rail back down the boat round the turret then back up the other side and I'm wondering if it's being exacerbated by this new thicker sheet I'm using for the main, it doesn't exactly glide through the blocks so the main doesn't naturally sheet out as fast as it did with the old mainsheet. Anyway, what does the hive mind have to say about irons, what are your tricks, a) for not going in in the first place and b) when it inevitably happens and c)What expletives help, I found Ef U Cee Kay totally useless no matter how much I uttered it. Or am I expecting too much of my weight versus a 9.4 sail? I mean it didn't happen every time so it must be possible, I must have some technique flaw.. Edited by G.R.F. - 16 Sep 12 at 3:23pm
	https://www.ease-distribution.com/

Kev M Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 05 Dec 11 Location: Landlocked Online Status: Offline Posts: 346	Post Options Post Reply Quote Kev M Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Sep 12 at 4:29pm
	I still get stuck ocassionally, mostly when I'm trying to tack with a lack of momentum. To get out of it I push the boom away to get the boat moving backwards then then push the tiller away so the the boat starts turning side on to the wind. Then it's a case of carry on as normal. The other thing you can do once you start turning backward is pull the boom towards you, past the centreline and pull the tiller twoards you so that you start bearing away and picking up speed. Perhaps you were hardening up too much at the bottom mark and need to take a slightly wider line if it was happening every time.
	Successfully confusing ambition with ability since 1980.

AlexM Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 10 Jan 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 857	Post Options Post Reply Quote AlexM Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Sep 12 at 5:13pm
	a) you're right about sheeting out. I used to get it when I started with the 100 but I'm fine now. When the wind is up I'll sheet out loads, tack and then sheet out even more when I've got onto the otherside whilst trying to get windward heel to get the boat bearing away. Once moving start sheeting back in and head up.

Do Different Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 26 Jan 12 Location: North Online Status: Offline Posts: 1312	Post Options Post Reply Quote Do Different Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Sep 12 at 5:15pm
	Ask any Topper squad'er, I think it goes something like push push pull pull. Some of ours are tiny, they seem to manage fine and they train in the sort of weather I wouldn't turn a dog outside.

radixon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 27 Oct 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2407	Post Options Post Reply Quote radixon Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Sep 12 at 5:16pm
	The 700 has this tendency, you had to dump the kicker, pull a Little daggerboard up if you dared and then do the push push pull pull method.

rodney Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 26 Feb 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 915	Post Options Post Reply Quote rodney Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Sep 12 at 5:29pm
	Always tack on the flattest bit of water. It's worth waiting just a bit longer rather than to hit a stopping wave. Let the boat heal to leeward so that it wants to tack naturally - weather helm, then tack. Best to tack with the main uncleated so that you can overtack i necessary, get speed up, and then head up again. For leeward roundings go in wide and come out tight keeping the speed on all the way round. If there is still a danger of getting into irons when tacking just hold the boom out to bring the bow round, works a treat when wearing round (cowards' gybe)
	Rodney Cobb Suntouched Sailboats Limited http://www.suntouched.co.uk [EMAIL=rodney@suntouched.co.uk">rodney@suntouched.co.uk

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: 16 Sep 12 at 5:30pm
	Loads and loads of downhaul. The windier it gets, the more the fullest part of the sail is blown aft, and the hrder is is to get the boat through the wind. So wack the cunningham on as hard as it will go.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

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: 16 Sep 12 at 5:35pm
	It basically means your allowing the boat to control you rather than vice-versa and therefore you are being a Southern pansy! Graeme perhaps its just a side effect of Shandy drinking? All singlehanded boats have this tendancy (although worse with fully battened mains) but it can easily be remedied by a couple of actions. 1. Pull on more cunningham, it pulls the draft forward on the mainsail and as you bring the power on there is less yawing moment driving the bow up into the wind 2. Keep the boat flat as you head up, as this maintains maximum rudder authority 3. Get you weight forwards If you go into irons, then kicker off, as the boat starts going backwards push the tiller away until the boat starts to bear away, then aggressively heel to windward and a couple of sharp pulls on the tiller as you pull a bit of mainsheet in, keeping the windward heel and as the boat accelerates sheet on and haul the kicker back on.

G.R.F. Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 10 Aug 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 4028	Post Options Post Reply Quote G.R.F. Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Sep 12 at 6:51pm
	Does this mean I'll have to uncleat that mainsheet thing and risk a broken nail? Have you seen what that nasty rope does to a girls hands? Gloves, I'll be needing gloves then, gloves to prevent ironing.. That kicker thing, it's quite a long stretch to reach it, so is that cunning lingual rope, not sure I want to fiddle with ropes once I'm out there, it seems such a manual thing to do, can see why Northerners would do it. Rudder Authority, I do like the sound of that, will I need to shout?
	https://www.ease-distribution.com/

rodney Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 26 Feb 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 915	Post Options Post Reply Quote rodney Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Sep 12 at 6:57pm
	Looks like Craigo and I disagree Let the boat want to tack and to hell with rudder authority!
	Rodney Cobb Suntouched Sailboats Limited http://www.suntouched.co.uk [EMAIL=rodney@suntouched.co.uk">rodney@suntouched.co.uk