The Real D-One Thread

   Hi Everybody,

I'm a green bean on the forum and to the D-One, so please don't flame me !!!  I am considering buying a D-One, and could use lots of feedback ...

I'm 59 years old, overweight (113 kg ... 250 lbs), and not super athletic.  However I'm a good sailor having been in small boats all my life, but no high performance skiffs other than a Laser.  I got some advice the the MPS would be too difficult with the trapeze, but the D-One might be fun.  I'll be sailing the boat on small lakes and resevoirs out in New Mexico (USA) and I'm looking for a boat that is a blast to sail.

I test sailed the D-One out in San Francisco (thanks Holger and Glenn !!!) and had a good time in light wind.  But 2 issues were troubling ...
   - The boat turtled quickly after I capsized with the spinnaker up
   - I had great difficulty getting the boat to right after capsizing

Do you think the boat turtles quickly?  I don't think I did anything to cause it ... just floating around getting the spinnaker down.  Someone suggested the mast may not have been sealed, but that's hard to believe.   If you just leave the boat on its side with no interference, how long will it take to turtle?  (It was easy to get out of the turtle position though ... just kneeling on the underside of the wing made it came up to its side right away.)

The second issue was after getting the spinnaker down and the boat back onto its side, I had a very hard time getting the boat to right.  I was in the water reaching up and hanging on the centerboard.  I'm not very strong but I was definitely putting pressure down on the centerboard, and the boat wouldn't right.  Again, if the mast was full of water it would explain it, but it is still hard to believe.  Any thoughts on this?   Do you have to get your body drapped over the centerboard?  (I'm not strong enough to do this.)  How hard is this for you all?  I'd appreciate feedback on this since I suspect several of you may have capsized  ;-)

Do any of you use a trick that Holger explained to me by using a line over the top rail and down into the water, with a loop in the end?  Then putting my foot in the loop and applying weight by "stepping" down?  Does it work well?

I could also use advice on the difficulty getting back into the boat.  I've read the posts about coming in over the stern, and in front of the wing.  Is there anything to grab and pull on when coming in the stern?  When coming in in front of the wing, does the boat just tip toward you which would eliminate having to pull myself up over the topsides?  And then just slide in?

I'll struggle badly when the wind blows, but I'm not too worried about that if I can get the boat back up and me back in.  At that point it is just a learning curve which is part of the fun.   Of course going fast is the other part  ;-)

Any feedback from other old  / fat guys?  (I've lost 8 lbs since sailing the D-One.  Its great motivation !!!)

Or am I just kidding myself ...

Thanks
Skiff640

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Skiff640 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 11 Jun 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote Skiff640 Report Post Quote Reply Topic: The Real D-One Thread Posted: 11 Jun 11 at 6:37am
	Hi Everybody, I'm a green bean on the forum and to the D-One, so please don't flame me !!! I am considering buying a D-One, and could use lots of feedback ... I'm 59 years old, overweight (113 kg ... 250 lbs), and not super athletic. However I'm a good sailor having been in small boats all my life, but no high performance skiffs other than a Laser. I got some advice the the MPS would be too difficult with the trapeze, but the D-One might be fun. I'll be sailing the boat on small lakes and resevoirs out in New Mexico (USA) and I'm looking for a boat that is a blast to sail. I test sailed the D-One out in San Francisco (thanks Holger and Glenn !!!) and had a good time in light wind. But 2 issues were troubling ... - The boat turtled quickly after I capsized with the spinnaker up - I had great difficulty getting the boat to right after capsizing Do you think the boat turtles quickly? I don't think I did anything to cause it ... just floating around getting the spinnaker down. Someone suggested the mast may not have been sealed, but that's hard to believe. If you just leave the boat on its side with no interference, how long will it take to turtle? (It was easy to get out of the turtle position though ... just kneeling on the underside of the wing made it came up to its side right away.) The second issue was after getting the spinnaker down and the boat back onto its side, I had a very hard time getting the boat to right. I was in the water reaching up and hanging on the centerboard. I'm not very strong but I was definitely putting pressure down on the centerboard, and the boat wouldn't right. Again, if the mast was full of water it would explain it, but it is still hard to believe. Any thoughts on this? Do you have to get your body drapped over the centerboard? (I'm not strong enough to do this.) How hard is this for you all? I'd appreciate feedback on this since I suspect several of you may have capsized ;-) Do any of you use a trick that Holger explained to me by using a line over the top rail and down into the water, with a loop in the end? Then putting my foot in the loop and applying weight by "stepping" down? Does it work well? I could also use advice on the difficulty getting back into the boat. I've read the posts about coming in over the stern, and in front of the wing. Is there anything to grab and pull on when coming in the stern? When coming in in front of the wing, does the boat just tip toward you which would eliminate having to pull myself up over the topsides? And then just slide in? I'll struggle badly when the wind blows, but I'm not too worried about that if I can get the boat back up and me back in. At that point it is just a learning curve which is part of the fun. Of course going fast is the other part ;-) Any feedback from other old / fat guys? (I've lost 8 lbs since sailing the D-One. Its great motivation !!!) Or am I just kidding myself ... Thanks Skiff640

mongrel Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 27 Aug 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 304	Post Options Post Reply Quote mongrel Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Jun 11 at 8:20am
	Perhaps once the kite has been stowed, releasing the kicker & mainsheet tension may help the boat right more easily. I think if you enjoyed your test sail, go for it. Once you have one and sail it a bit, you won't be capsizing so much. They're undoubtably well made, high quality boats, just a bit expensive over here in the UK.

KeithF Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 29 Jul 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 44	Post Options Post Reply Quote KeithF Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Jun 11 at 3:39pm
	Well I reckon the mast can't have been sealed as I spent lots of time swimming when I first got the D-One, most of it next to the boom getting the kite down. It was just a case then of stepping on the boom round the front of the wing and on to the dagger board. It really was as simple as that - not once did it turn turtle plus I'm on wide wings which probably doesn't help. A year down the line I spend a lot less time in the water - just as well as 40-something years of sailing have left the knees a bit fragile! I'm aged 57 and weigh 85kg. Edited by KeithF - 11 Jun 11 at 3:42pm
	Keith - Finn GBR63

michaelairey Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Newbie Joined: 24 Oct 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 23	Post Options Post Reply Quote michaelairey Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Jun 11 at 7:49pm
	I agree with Keith. What i have noticed is that as you pull the kite down from in the water the boat may start to turtle. This is because you are using a leg to brace your body against the boat to enable you to pull the kite down. So if the boat starts to turtle stop hauling and the mast will rise in the water. when it does give a few more pulls and you should get the rest of the kite down and you can then get on the boom and over the top onto the board. The righting lines might be a good idea for you. You would have to lead them right round to the stern so that you can reach them from the water. If you have a long elastic at the tail end lead up the boat or round the other side they should snap back when non longer in use. If you need to go in the back when the boat is up the D-one heads up to wind v quickly because the mast is so far forward. As Keith says you will capsize less the more time you spend in the boat. Its the main that puts tou in on the gybe nine times out of ten. Sail downwind without too much vang so that the boom is't low and if it's windy ease the main a bit before you go into the gybe and keep the speed on. Hope this helps!
	Michael

Skiff640 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 11 Jun 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote Skiff640 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Jun 11 at 10:11pm
	Thank you for your thoughts ... they are much appreciated. I didn't realize the idea of stepping on the boom, then the mast, and then over the top in front of the wing onto the board. I'll try that next time. How hard is it to right the boat from the water by pulling down on the centerboard? Is it me not being strong enough, or is there just not enough leverage? Thanks Skiff640

KeithF Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 29 Jul 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 44	Post Options Post Reply Quote KeithF Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 12 Jun 11 at 9:12am
	The problem with pulling from the water is getting the last bit done - this seems to require a sustained effort until the sail clears the water and then, being fully battened, the boat wants to go sailing so you need to be on the wing to keep things steady. I've always made an effort to get on the board, even with kite still up, and get the mast horizontal. Sometimes it will come up like this. Failing that drop back into the cockpit to get the kite down and then step back up. Edited by KeithF - 12 Jun 11 at 9:13am
	Keith - Finn GBR63

Skiff640 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 11 Jun 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote Skiff640 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 31 Jul 11 at 4:14am
	I test sailed the D-One in San Francisco again. (Thanks again Glenn and Holger !!!) The capsize recovery went better, but still not great. Has anyone sailed the D-One with a flotation device at the masthead to prevent turtling? Would you recommend the rigid egg (Hobie) or the flexible plastic bag filled with air style? There is no way I'll succeed in going up the boom and mast and over the rail onto the centrboard without something like this. I'm too slow and heavy, and the boat turtles before I get there. Another question ... how critical is uncleating the mainsail when trying to right the boat? I started to think that the mainsail being full of water was making things much worse when pulling down on the centerboard from in the water. I could not get the main uncleated because the boat turtled, and because I was dumb. The one time the main was uncleated, the boat seemed to come up much easier. Any input would be appreciated ... Skiff640

bert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 23 Apr 05 Location: norwich usually Online Status: Offline Posts: 584	Post Options Post Reply Quote bert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 31 Jul 11 at 7:22am
	The air filled float is cheaper & you will get to the stage quite quickly where running up the boom & over the side is quite natual so the other type is throwing money away for no good reason. As to the main sheet being cleated or un cleated making righting the boat easier I figure that you have answered your own question. Have fun
	Phantom 1181 AC-227 IC 304 blaze / halo 586

haroosh Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 14 Jan 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 521	Post Options Post Reply Quote haroosh Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 31 Jul 11 at 11:05am
	Loving the latest D one videos... Mega professional....
	Keith RS100 GBR 116 (XLR8)

Ruscoe Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 12 Jan 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1514	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ruscoe Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 26 Oct 11 at 4:55pm
	D-one nationals this weekend, and i am attending Forecast looks a bit tasty, expectation levels were already set low, but looking at some of the entries i have now set them even lower. Still someone has to come last and if GRF aint available its going to have to be me.