Advice for a first cat event

   I'm sailing in my first ever cat event this weekend and I was wondering if anyone would like to share their wisdom. I'm a dinghy sailor (RS600) so this is all a bit new. I'll be helming a Hobie Tiger in a fleet of 15 F18s. What do I need to do differently, particularly for the start?

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dohertpk Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 28 Sep 12 Online Status: Offline Posts: 172	Post Options Post Reply Quote dohertpk Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Advice for a first cat event Posted: 15 Aug 17 at 7:21pm
	I'm sailing in my first ever cat event this weekend and I was wondering if anyone would like to share their wisdom. I'm a dinghy sailor (RS600) so this is all a bit new. I'll be helming a Hobie Tiger in a fleet of 15 F18s. What do I need to do differently, particularly for the start?

Time Lord Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 03 Dec 13 Location: Warwickshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 301	Post Options Post Reply Quote Time Lord Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 Aug 17 at 8:14pm
	Suggest follow Corporal Jones advice and don't panic!
	Merlin Rocket 3609

gary145 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 05 Aug 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 116	Post Options Post Reply Quote gary145 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 Aug 17 at 10:07pm
	Allow plenty of space for tacking. Start the tack slowly. ALWAYS have speed before trying to tack. Best to hit the line at speed rather than battle for the best spot. Pull the downhaul on, then pull it a lot more! Keep a hull just flying as much as you can. If you are twin trapezing its highly unlikely you will have too much mainsheet tension upwind. more than you think needed downwind too. Have a great time!


Chris 249 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 10 May 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2041	Post Options Post Reply Quote Chris 249 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Aug 17 at 8:19am
	I start the Tiger pretty much in dinghy fashion; in fact I'm finding it dramatically easier to get good starts in the F18 in fleets the same size as yours and with world champs. We haven't sailed it much and were suffering terribly upwind in the light stuff because we were over twisting the main - not by much, but even a little bit has a dramatic effect on those very high aspect and flat mains. The Tiger is at its best in light stuff but we are very quick upwind in a breeze as well - we just haven't had the time to get anything like decent performance downwind. I've recently been told that the class spins are deeper than modern F18 sails and therefore you should sail lower angles downwind. That ties in with the older hull shape. Remember that the mainsheet is the backstay downwind and don't dump it- ease traveller. Get the crew to lock in when trapezing. Good luck!
	sailcraftblog.wordpress.com The history and design of the racing dinghy.

dohertpk Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 28 Sep 12 Online Status: Offline Posts: 172	Post Options Post Reply Quote dohertpk Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Aug 17 at 9:14am
	Thanks all for the advice. Could someone talk me through the bear away?