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Unhooking on the wire

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=9581
Printed Date: 28 Mar 24 at 4:37pm
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Topic: Unhooking on the wire
Posted By: Oatsandbeans
Subject: Unhooking on the wire
Date Posted: 10 Jul 12 at 12:05pm
I was watching a video of 2 of the 470 girls sailing, and noticed that the crew was unhooking on the wire going into tacks, with the skipper putting the helm down whilst the crew was still out. The tacks looked really good - but I wondered how easy this was in practice, what with sorting out the jib sheets and getting across to the new side, without completely stuffing it up. I'd be interested in any comments from anyone that successfully does this.



Replies:
Posted By: Ruscoe
Date Posted: 10 Jul 12 at 2:32pm

Its a much faster way of getting in and out of the wire. Also known as wire to wire tacking.

Basically you hold on to the trapeze handle (arm straight as you will struggle to hold you own body weight with a bent arm after a good few hours racing, thrust your hips towards the sky which should unhook you. you still have your other hand on the jib sheet. Coming through the boat you grab the new jib sheet with you (previously forward hand) by the turning black/cleat and grab the other handle as you cross the boat with your new forward most hand. Step out onto the wife whilst holding the jib sheet, front arm straight holding onto the handle you will now be wiring without being clipped in. Once you have cleated the jib you can use your back hand to clip the hook on. Or if you are really slick the helm may help you.

Its how I crew from the wire and i am no sailing god or Olympian. But it makes things much quicker and less troublesome.

Hope that helps?



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Posted By: pondmonkey
Date Posted: 10 Jul 12 at 2:38pm
Originally posted by Ruscoe

Step out onto the wife whilst holding the jib sheet

that's the best autocorrect in a while LOL


Posted By: Ruscoe
Date Posted: 10 Jul 12 at 2:52pm
ha ha i'm turning autocorrect off now its got me in so much trouble of late.

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Posted By: ellistine
Date Posted: 10 Jul 12 at 2:56pm
The best thing from a helms perspective with the crew unhooking whilst still out on the wire is that you know for sure they aren't still attached when you bang in the tack. Nothing worse than when you think the Mrs has shouted 'Go' when infact she shouted 'No'. It's not fast with your crew dangling around to leeward.

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Posted By: Neptune
Date Posted: 10 Jul 12 at 3:30pm
to be honest its not that difficult - most trapezing helms do it too.

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Musto Skiff and Solo sailor


Posted By: Oatsandbeans
Date Posted: 10 Jul 12 at 5:10pm
Thanks, I'll give it a go this weekend.



Posted By: Oatsandbeans
Date Posted: 11 Jul 12 at 7:21am
I think that (mentally), I have sorted out the wire to wire tack, but what about the wire to wire gybe? Normally I come in, unhook, and sort out the new sheet (grab it and back it up), and then we gybe. In the wire to wire gybe do I have to do this sorting out on the wire?, or quickly when I get in the boat, or just not bother, and hope it doesn't all wrap up?


Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 11 Jul 12 at 9:28am
hmmm, a wire to wire gybe implies there's no spinny to be worried about....what sort of boat are you sailing?  

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the same, but different...



Posted By: r2d2
Date Posted: 11 Jul 12 at 9:54am
maybe this clip will help  - have a look from 1:10 seconds onwards

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXUoYAIrkR4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXUoYAIrkR4

all quite straightforward really Wink

ooh sorry - just remembered you are thinking about a double hander


Posted By: Oatsandbeans
Date Posted: 11 Jul 12 at 10:08am
An RS 500


Posted By: Oatsandbeans
Date Posted: 11 Jul 12 at 10:17am
The video was useful - it has got to be easier doing a wire to wire gybe in a 2 man boat than a MPS, I just need to sort out the routine. Sten's technique of backing up the new spin sheet on the wire and holding both in one hand ( the front one ), looks good. So I would then grab the handle with the rear hand unhook and come in looks like it could be the best way. I suppose I'm going to have to get wet and try it (forecast for 25 knots tonight hat should be enough!).


Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 11 Jul 12 at 10:27am
It should be very doable in a 500, just treat the kite like the jib, but make sure your helm has born off enough to depower first, and jump out too soon afterwards.

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the same, but different...



Posted By: ellistine
Date Posted: 11 Jul 12 at 10:33am
Another video with lots of tacks and gybes.

http://youtu.be/diQPf31MTvE - http://youtu.be/diQPf31MTvE

It's not a 500 and it has a self tacking jib which makes it a bit easier but you'll get the idea.


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Posted By: themeaningoflife
Date Posted: 11 Jul 12 at 10:47am
In the 500 (only sailed it a few times though) we found it best for the helm to cross cleat the jib so through the gybe the crew only has to worry about the spinnaker sheets and then gybe it like a 29er (seen here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx0NVV7FvEg&feature=related - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx0NVV7FvEg&feature=related  as shown from 2:05 onwards). The crew can go out on the handlle and either hook themselves on with the sheet hand if the loads aren't too high or hang and give the sheet to the helm once through the gybe, leaving both hands to hook on as in a tack. Hope this helps.  Smile

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Cambridge University Lightweight Rowing Club
RS800 1128

kindly sponsored by http://www.rwo-marine.com" rel="nofollow - RWO Marine


Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 11 Jul 12 at 11:13am
Originally posted by winging it

hmmm, a wire to wire gybe implies there's no spinny to be worried about....what sort of boat are you sailing?  

an assymetric?


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-_
Al


Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 11 Jul 12 at 12:12pm
I'm too old skool to instantly think of that Al, but once the fog was lifted, all became clear....

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the same, but different...



Posted By: Oatsandbeans
Date Posted: 11 Jul 12 at 12:18pm
Thanks for the video it was useful. I think that the jib is a pain in the 500 and I try to get the helm to do that in the gybes ( he doesn't always remember!, but that is not a great problem). I think with a bit of practice and possibly cutting down the spinnaker sheet length a bit more I can fix this. I don't know whether its because its on video and it always looks easy on video, but the 29 er looks quite easy to move about on the manouveres. The 500 is deeper and its not quite so simple getting across smoothly without falling over ( maybe I'm just too old for this game!).


Posted By: sten
Date Posted: 13 Jul 12 at 11:23am

work out the optimum foot work for your boat,

the least steps is usually best, triangulated where possible(3 points of contact in triangle) so with your feet shoulder width apart and a hand can be used to steady at times. I use my hand for balance by leaving it holding the wire to the last moment and on the deck as I duck the boom and help push back up on the other side.
 
it will also help allot if the boat is flat, and the helm steers a constant rate of turn.
if the boat heels to windward going into the gybe you have set off too late.
you can not catch up because running faster makes kinetics that turn the boat faster.
practice without the kite getting this moment right and your foot work good
 
as you saw on the video clip sorting out as much as possible on the wire helps make the gybe easier like taking the slack out of the new sheet ect.


Posted By: Oatsandbeans
Date Posted: 13 Jul 12 at 1:05pm
Thanks, I'll give it a go and see how I get on. I like the idea of having three points of contact with the boat. I have found that some gybes with an over eager helm ( or maybe it was an excess of windward heel), that the g-force has been enough to chuck me (& the helm) out of the boat, not fast at all!



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