Downwind Instability = Swim

Yup, that video turns everything you instinctively think is right on it's head. The bit that did it for me is at 6:40" 'Cockerill's Rule'

Edited by Sam.Spoons - 03 Feb 20 at 10:47am

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Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3398	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Downwind Instability = Swim Posted: 03 Feb 20 at 10:47am
	Yup, that video turns everything you instinctively think is right on it's head. The bit that did it for me is at 6:40" 'Cockerill's Rule' Edited by Sam.Spoons - 03 Feb 20 at 10:47am
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

423zero Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 08 Jan 15 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3406	Post Options Post Reply Quote 423zero Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Feb 20 at 12:57pm
	'Cockerels rule' stay in the bar.
	Robert

epicfail Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 01 Dec 19 Online Status: Offline Posts: 61	Post Options Post Reply Quote epicfail Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Feb 20 at 1:37pm
	The bit at 6.40 is pretty much exactly what happened to me, a chap watching the race told me it looked like I was going the pitch pole. My only question is if I'm sailing by the lee and pull the rudder towards me will I not end up with a rather exciting gybe?

GarethT Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 21 Apr 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 714	Post Options Post Reply Quote GarethT Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Feb 20 at 1:41pm
	Unless you are already hard by the lee, you won’t gibe unless you keep steering. It gets you back flat so you can get back under control. Once flat I would then point a little more towards dead downwind, and sheet in a little. If you’ve got your kicker eased it is really quite forgiving in terms of gybing, and you can pretty much sail on a broad reach with the sail on the ‘wrong’ side.

GarethT Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 21 Apr 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 714	Post Options Post Reply Quote GarethT Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Feb 20 at 1:42pm
	Another thing, by the lee sheeting works the opposite way so sheet in to depower and ease to power up.

H2 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 26 Jul 17 Online Status: Offline Posts: 749	Post Options Post Reply Quote H2 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Feb 20 at 3:14pm
	I do love sailing, you get to learn each and every day! In the H2 you cannot go by the lee due to the stays and the flat top main is very sensitive to kicker down wind, as soon as the top of the sail gets ahead of the mast you are going for a swim 100% guaranteed so you literally sail downwind playing the kicker letting it off in the lulls and pulling it back on in the gusts! Clearly the Europe is different - I assume the same would work with a Laser and Finn?
	H2 #115 (sold) H2 145 OK 2082

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3398	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Feb 20 at 3:21pm
	I believe Steve Cockerill demonstrated that 'by the lee' works on boats with a stayed rig by cleaning up at the Blaze Nationals back in 2002. Perhaps you need to get him in an H2? Edited by Sam.Spoons - 03 Feb 20 at 3:22pm
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

epicfail Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 01 Dec 19 Online Status: Offline Posts: 61	Post Options Post Reply Quote epicfail Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Feb 20 at 6:14pm
	Thank you everyone for pointing me in the right direction. Lots of really interesting stuff to think about, I need to get out and practice these things. I only started sailing again in November after a 30 year break, the first time I got in my Europe was for a race - haven't actually sailed the boat just for the fun. Now I know what I don't know I have something to work on!

GarethT Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 21 Apr 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 714	Post Options Post Reply Quote GarethT Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Feb 20 at 6:17pm
	Where do you sail? First weekend in June there’s a Europe event at Weymouth, with a training day on the Friday. Last year’s training day was brilliant, with some great tips on survival sailing (plus the whole event was a great social).

johnbrooker Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 31 Jan 20 Online Status: Offline Posts: 44	Post Options Post Reply Quote johnbrooker Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Feb 20 at 6:37pm
	Hi all, as others have said more kicker may help. I use more kicker in stronger winds than light- you'll find the more you let off the more unstable you feel. Rule of thumb- let is off as far as you can until the boat starts feeling unstable. Also bear away in the gusts and keep your weight aft
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