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Downwind Instability = Swim

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Post Options Post Options   Quote epicfail Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Downwind Instability = Swim
    Posted: 12 Feb 20 at 9:05am
Thanks Gareth, I'll keep an eye on the Facebook page. 
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GarethT View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote GarethT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Feb 20 at 9:48am
Keep an eye on the Facebook group. A Handbook has just been published in French and is currently being translated to English. Should be out next month.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote epicfail Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Feb 20 at 7:19am
I sailed a Radial a couple of times before I got the Europe. The Radial appeared far less responsive to my weight than the Europe - I'm about 62 kgs. I like that fact that if I move around in the boat I get an instant reaction, even if sometimes it's not necessarily with the right outcome. 

Once I can get time on the water that isn't on a Sunday I'll have some things to work on - I'm looking forward it.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Sam.Spoons Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Feb 20 at 10:12pm
I've only had one relatively brief sail in a very old and tired Europe, on the sea and in a good F4-5 breeze* but would not describe it as twitchy compared to other boats, no more so than a Laser anyway.


* Fabulous little boat, loved it, if I was a little bendier and 5-10kg lighter it would definitely be on my shortlist.


Edited by Sam.Spoons - 10 Feb 20 at 10:14pm
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Post Options Post Options   Quote DiscoBall Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Feb 20 at 7:53pm
Originally posted by epicfail

I only started sailing again in November after a 30 year break, the first time I got in my Europe was for a race - haven't actually sailed the boat just for the fun. Now I know what I don't know I have something to work on!


Don't be too hard on yourself then - with its Moth heritage the Europe is a bit more twitchy/responsive (depending on your taste) than many other singlehanders, but that's it charm.

One thing I'm not sure was mentioned above was to check the range of movement of your kicker as maybe it can go off too far? A very rough rule of thumb is to put your elbow on the top of the transom, then the furthest the boom should go up is the end of your outstretched fingers. If it can go up further then that may not be helping.

Worth a look at Lars' youtube channel - not that relevant to pond sailing but it's definitely how you sail a Europe well.  Wink





Edited by DiscoBall - 10 Feb 20 at 7:56pm
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Post Options Post Options   Quote 423zero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Feb 20 at 9:57am
80mph, should be a good display, get it on video.
Robert
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Sam.Spoons Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Feb 20 at 9:33am
Originally posted by 423zero

Well you should be able to try Europe this weekend, forecast is good for extreme swimming.

FTFY  LOL
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Post Options Post Options   Quote 423zero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Feb 20 at 7:02am
Well you should be able to try Europe this weekend, forecast is good for extreme running.
Robert
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Post Options Post Options   Quote davidyacht Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Feb 20 at 11:15am
Originally posted by H2

I do love sailing, you get to learn each and every day! In the H2 you cannot go by the lee due to the stays and the flat top main is very sensitive to kicker down wind, as soon as the top of the sail gets ahead of the mast you are going for a swim 100% guaranteed so you literally sail downwind playing the kicker letting it off in the lulls and pulling it back on in the gusts! Clearly the Europe is different - I assume the same would work with a Laser and Finn?

I have seldom sailed such a stable and forgiving singlehander as the H2 downwind; on the day that I raced the demo boat it was seriously windy and even after going "down the mine" the bow popped up.  And she was dead stable on a deep planing run.

Like Keith's Merlin designs, of which I sailed one in my youth, I suspect that the H2 might be less forgiving when allowed to rail on her chines.

The large flat top main may be an issue, but stays don't stop the Solo from sailing by the lee, albeit not as extreme as the non-stayed classes, but it is still fast, and I would suggest sailing deep on the run allows you to pick your gybing moment almost anywhere in the downwind leg, whereas a reach to reach gybe commits you to gybing at a specific point.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Sam.Spoons Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Feb 20 at 10:28am
Big smile I'll bet it has  Thumbs Up
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