Really fast downwind, really slow upwind ???

Over the past season I've noticed that the boat has been really quick downwind, which is nice and leaves me feeling like my skills are really getting better.

The problem is that I feel crazy slow upwind (compared to last season). At first I thought that I might be trying to point too high, but bearing off doesn't seem to make a difference. No matter what I do it feels like I'm dragging a mark upwind.

Any suggestions on where to start? The mast is raked pretty far back, but not nearly as extreme as some of the boats that I've compared it to. The only change has been the addition of a baby bob that my girlfriend bought me for Christmas......

I noticed the same thing when we were racing at Caseville. You guys killed us going downwind but we had you by a little on the upwind legs.

You're raked pretty far back I think.

Maybe you need more downhaul upwind. We release the downhaul when we are going downwind and bring it back tight going upwind.

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Zach

The Bob = more drag and more weight aloft. Neither of those things are going to help your upwind performance. I'm not saying that the Bob is definitely what's causing your issues, but I would think the first thing you should do would be to pop it off and go for a sail to see if things go back to normal.

sm

Caseville was a perfect example. And the bob is the only thing that's changed recently.

I'm prepping the spare mast for alum creek, so we'll see if ditching the bob and a couple gallons of water makes a difference.

Any idea why you guys were so much faster than us going downwind? We're not going to be able to make it to Old Fox now so you can tell me

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Zach

Major bummer. We were looking forward to racing you again. My boat still has the prehistoric downhaul, so I usually crank it down in the morning and leave it set until the main comes down at the end of the day. Other than that, our boats are setup very similarly.

I think a lot of our downwind speed came from getting our weight further forward on the boat. As long as it's not blowing hard enough to stuff a bow, I make Kelsey sit on the leeward side corner casting.

You definitely sailed smarter than me that one race where we thought we were doing 1 lap but turned out we were doing 2. I still have nightmares of of that insane comeback on the final downwind leg. I definitely should have covered and stayed between you guys and the finish line.

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Zach

What age are your sails? An old jib can affect pointing.

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Zach

I picked up a 16 again so I may be able to go "slumming" it with you guys racing next summer.

For upwind - you have lots of down haul and outhaul? traveler in the center? Jib tight? I just made the mistake of not having my outhaul tight at Higgens.

Also mast rotation look proper when you're having this issue?

Zach you going to gross point this weekend? Gonna be COLD AND WINDY - but last of the season and the tiger needs me to rub it's tummy again. = )

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Ron

This is gonna sound crazy, but upwind, especially solo, I sheet the jib leeward, travelled in towards the mast BUT i use my windward jib sheet to pull the jib up and in tighter to the mast making the tale tales on the jib go straight back up wind close hauled and get more power, flying a hull quicker! I point very high on my 16... almost matching my pointing on my H20!
Tim

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Tim Grover

Memphis, TN fleet 134
Hobie 20! G-Cat5.0 and 2 Hobie 14's
Photobucket now wants $100 to post pics on forums......... pass.

I had the same problem in the spring check that the rudders are adjusted paralle to the hulls. Even slightly off will slow you down drastically

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1981 hobie 16 with carumba sails
http://youtu.be/IRqA38nn7aI

Sodusbayhobie, I am just west of the bay on the lake.

Cheers
Bill