Hiking Setup & Technique

Hi, new to the forum so be nice! ;-)
We have just gotten ourselves an RS400 and are participating in our local club racing.  We have both extensively crewed at regional levels but never helmed!  Anyway we are having trouble finding information on how to setup the RS400's toe straps to make for a comfortable, enjoyable and efficient hiking performance.  I've been scanning around trying to find articles on good technique and how long our toe straps should be....I'm used to Laser 2000's which often hiked like a laser but luts of people seem to sort of drop hike the 400 a bit like a Merlin.....I'm finding no matter what I do I can't get it setup quite right....Any advice or pointers to good photos/articles on setup would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Oli.

Thanks Russ,

Will take a look at the Rooster site like you suggest.  I am 5'11" (think my inside leg is 32" or so) - pretty average sized in general.  I don't have any hikers yet.  I bought some of the crewsaver clip-on ones which I did not like at all as the battens were so long I couldn't bend my knees properly!  My crew and long suffering girlfriend has just bought a pair of new hikers but is still complaining about the setup.....will take another look at hikers but I sail in Aberdeen so were a drysuit pretty much throughout the summer - would need to get something to go over or under it.

Thanks again!

The Clip on ones are Cack pal.  You should OK with proper 3/4 ones over a drysuit, but you will look like a bit of a gimp.

Here is the rooster tips section click on articles and tuning and then hiking styles

http://www.roostersailing.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen= hints&Store_Code=1

Hope it helps

Hi Oli

Rooster wouldn't sell rubbish, Steve tests his range prior to launch etc.

I have the 3/4 length hikers for when I had a Laser, still use them when I jump into a hiking boat now as I find them comfortable. If you do decide to get them, give them a call as they are a weird sizing. I have size small, normally a medium to large in different wetsuits but have seen a guy wearing what would be the right size but they only look s... on him.

As for hiking, also check out youtube for videos of other sailors sailing the rs400 to get an idea of hiking styles.