Where to drop the kite
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Banter
Forum Discription: For all those non-sailing related discussions
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6912
Printed Date: 30 Jun 25 at 1:23pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Where to drop the kite
Posted By: ellistine
Subject: Where to drop the kite
Date Posted: 07 Jul 10 at 11:39pm
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Where's the best place to aim to drop an asymm kite in
relation to the bottom mark? We've always aimed to be as close to the mark as possible and slightly above it for a more downwind drop. Most often it does mean the mrs is still sorting out sheets when I'm heading up. If you look at this video from today at 3:30 they drop the kite miles from the mark and scream in to it on a beam reach. Is that normal? http://blip.tv/file/3852294 - http://blip.tv/file/3852 294 |
Replies:
Posted By: AlexM
Date Posted: 08 Jul 10 at 8:36am
in the chute or bag  ------------- |
Posted By: asterix
Date Posted: 08 Jul 10 at 8:52am
on top of the laser you have just caught up;-) ------------- |
Posted By: timnoyce
Date Posted: 08 Jul 10 at 9:13am
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Well in the video they have a leeward gate so the reaching across is to get them to their favoured side for the next upwind leg. Also, a 49er is rapid on a 2 sail reach, so they haven't really lost as much as you would in a slower boat if you were to drop off the plane. We always try and drop as late as possible so that you are ready for upwind soon enough to get a good tight rounding and hold your lane out of the mark. Getting the crew back out on the wire and the boat moving right away is much more important than tidying the kite sheets. This can be done later once you are settled on the new point of sail. Judging when to drop obviously comes with practise, too early and you lose speed downwind, too late and you muck up your rounding. I would suggest that dropping early is quicker whilst you are improving. Making sure your systems all run smoothly is also good as it gives you massive confidence, there is nothing more demoralising than having a big snag and trawling with the kite whilst all the boats you overtook just sail over the top of you again. I always have a nightmare with kite sheets and halyards being everywhere in the boat, but a lot of other boats in the fleet have bungee systems which tidy the sheets when the kite is down. Might be worth looking into this so that it saves your good lady a job ;-) If you haven't seen 'Higher and Faster', it is well worth a look as they run through lots of options on all points of sail, allbeit in newer more modern boats but you will still find most of it applicable. I think there was another video shot years ago shot in 4k's but not sure of the name! ------------- http://www.facebook.com/bearfootdesign - BEARFOOT DESIGN Cherub 2648 - Comfortably Numb |
Posted By: ellistine
Date Posted: 08 Jul 10 at 10:17am
Now that would be interesting! Yes, I have 'Higher and Faster'. Infact, each time I see Peter Greenhalgh at the WPNSA I can't help thinking 'Give it some salad!' ------------- |
Posted By: stuarthop
Date Posted: 08 Jul 10 at 10:38am
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The one shot in 4/5k's was called high performance sailing. I may still have it on video somewhere at my parents house.
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Posted By: Skiffybob
Date Posted: 08 Jul 10 at 1:34pm
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Not in the water, is a good start ------------- 12ft Skiff - Gordon Keeble and the Furry Fly-by AC - GBR271 - Whoosh B49 - Island Alchemy |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 08 Jul 10 at 1:40pm
More seriously its better to two sail to the mark than run to the mark after the kite drop, so I prefer to end that way. Also if you look like ending up below the mark its better to drop early and two sail at full speed to the mark than struggle with the oat on its ear to get there with the rag up. |
Posted By: asterix
Date Posted: 08 Jul 10 at 1:56pm
does anyone have a ratchet in their kite halyard system to stop it dropping in the water as soon as you uncleat the uphaul? if so what sort of ratchet do you use and where do you put it in the system? ------------- |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 08 Jul 10 at 2:28pm
The helmsman's foot usually performs that function, whilst at the same time he will be denying he's got his foot on anything... |
Posted By: Skiffybob
Date Posted: 08 Jul 10 at 9:00pm
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Knots work quite well for that too. Ask Fliptop. ------------- 12ft Skiff - Gordon Keeble and the Furry Fly-by AC - GBR271 - Whoosh B49 - Island Alchemy |
Posted By: Dan Vincent
Date Posted: 13 Jul 10 at 3:14pm
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In a singlehanded boat e.g. Musto/ 700, then all the crew weight has to move inboard to recover the kite. Priority is to get the kite down ASAP while keeping the boat flat. Normal technique is to ease main, bear away onto very broad reach, over sheet, take all of slack out of the kite downhaul, uncleat the spinnaker halyard, and pull down quickly. The course described during the perfect Musto drop would not look the same as the perfect 49er or 800 drop where the helm can stay out on the wire. |
Posted By: Rockhopper
Date Posted: 13 Jul 10 at 6:32pm
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It also depends if you have a tide to deal with if i am coming in against the tide i drop the kite almost on the bouy on a dead run if i have the tide behind me i start about five boat lenghs from the bouy as if you drift wide on the bouy after the drop someone else can get up inside you. ------------- Retired now after 35 seasons in a row and time for a rest. 2004 national champ Laser5000 2007,2010,National Champ Rs Vareo |
Posted By: Garry
Date Posted: 13 Jul 10 at 9:19pm
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1. Late is much much much slower than early.
2. Pull the retrieval line on (or gather the foot in - bags) before releasing the halyard. ------------- Garry Lark 2252, Contender 298 www.cuckoos.eclipse.co.uk |