topper sailing
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Technique
Forum Discription: 'How to' section for dinghy questions and answers
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7996
Printed Date: 25 Jun 25 at 7:14am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: topper sailing
Posted By: 45361
Subject: topper sailing
Date Posted: 30 Jun 11 at 9:48pm
| i am a resonable topper sailor but have problems in light airs has anyone any advise how to sail up wind ? |
Replies:
Posted By: Mister Nick
Date Posted: 30 Jun 11 at 10:12pm
| Sit really far forward in the boat, heel the boat to leeward a bit and flatten the sails a bit using the kicker and outhaul (sounds weird but flat sails are faster in light wind). Try and steer the boat via bodyweight with minimal use of the rudder. You need to concentrate very hard on spotting wind shifts and reacting quickly to headers and lifts. Try and sail towards areas where there is wind too, look at the water and the areas where it is slightly rougher is where there is more wind. Watch other boats too, see how well they are sailing in their current location. |
Posted By: radixon
Date Posted: 01 Jul 11 at 11:29am
|
The daggerboard is your friend in light airs!
------------- |
Posted By: doeywizard
Date Posted: 01 Jul 11 at 3:37pm
|
I sail a topper, have almost 0 down haul on and only enough kicker to stop you boom rising up, do not sail block to block, sit in front of the center board casing and under the kicker, a heal to leeward to hold the sail in shape sit very still, big role tacks, they gain so much ground, however you must keep everything smooth, use little rudder, steer on any lifts or headers by healing the boat and get in a sneeky pump whenever you can without getting seen, outhaul have about a hand with between the boom and stay focused, the start is everything and even if you have a cr*p start just tack into clean air, there is nothing worse than being stuck behind every one in dirty wind, do not get into a luffing battle or a tack of or you will only get slow right down. Are you going to the national series this weekend? ------------- Topper 46148 for sale http://sailingdinghies.apolloduck.co.uk/display.phtml?aid=276804 |
Posted By: doeywizard
Date Posted: 01 Jul 11 at 3:49pm
|
Sorry I missed this bit off, this is a very helpful document it is a sailing solutions one http://www.sailing-solutions.co.uk/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=l9FMPNkJ-G4%3d&tabid=84&mid=421 - http://www.sailing-solutions.co.uk/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=l9FMPNkJ-G4%3d&tabid=84&mid=421 ------------- Topper 46148 for sale http://sailingdinghies.apolloduck.co.uk/display.phtml?aid=276804 |
Posted By: FireballNeil
Date Posted: 03 Jul 11 at 5:55pm
|
If you have one of the new (last couple of years) red/white/blue topper sails, you need more than a bit of kicker, in fact quite a lot which seems "wrong" in light winds, however the sail is far too full and it is necessary to flatten it right off in this way. ------------- Neil 
|