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 Post subject: downwind
PostPosted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 1:22 pm 
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Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:09 am
Posts: 28
Location: Ottawa Canada
Hi

We have been finding we are losing places going downwind.

I have been using the jib backside telltails to indicate too deep and some audio tape attached on the spin wires which i try to keep flowing at 90 degrees but we still lose boats so odviousely this isnt the complete answer.

The fordeck person is excellent at triming the spin for the direction we are going but finding that sweet spot for direction is proving a bit tricky. does anyone have other suggestions?

I let off the main sheet a foot if ther wind is resonable but dont travel out at all.

Moyra


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:26 am 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 3:16 pm
Posts: 302
Location: San Diego
take all bridle fly's, cassette tape off the boat, set your jib and learn to sail by the feel of the boat. Concentrate on your speed, you'll eventually get the feel of when the boat is going slow or fast and you'll begin to notice the boat slowing at which time you'll know you need to speed it up. Lots of practice.

_________________
Greg Thomas
Hobie Factory Team


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:33 am 
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Joined: Wed May 17, 2006 7:49 am
Posts: 1053
Location: North Carolina
The way it was explained to me made sense. Come up to heat it up, when you think its there come up some more. Sail it downwind on one hull just as you would upwind but bear off when it flys too high and head back up when it drops. It scares the hell out of me but its sooooooo fun!


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 8:46 am 
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Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 10:00 am
Posts: 383
Location: Long Beach, CA
If you do not feel butterflies in your stomach, while the spinnaker is up, you are not sailing hot enough, sail a bit higher. Keep heating it up. Put your crew on the trapeze and see if you can keep them high and dry. Practice this while the feeling in your stomach subsides.

Dan


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:09 am 
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Site Rank - Admiral

Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 6:41 pm
Posts: 210
Location: Commerce Twp, Michigan
Hey Moyra,

A couple of more tips...

I usually have Giselle hold the spin in one position instead of constantly sheeting in or out. I'll steer the boat to the wind, keeping a hull out of the water. If it drops, I'll heat it up a bit until the hull raises again. As your speed increases the apparent wind will move forward of the boat. This is very critical when surfing swells downwind. This will allow you to bear off a bit more while keeping the hull up. This is the "sweet spot" ...a narrow 5 to 10 degree groove 8) . You'll feel it...the boat comes alive. But you must be careful...too deep you lose your speed, the wind subsequently shifts to behind the boat, your hull falls back into the water and you end up wallowing. Not very fast :( . In essence you are doing very slight "S" turns downwind to keep the hull up and the butterflies in your stomach :wink: When the wind is lighter I'll have Giselle on the low side in order to fly the hull downwind. See the attached pic below.

Image

Even though I have video tape on the spin pole wires (old H17 habit) I do not pay attention to them and sail the boat by feel. The video tape is really there for the light, shifty stuff.

Hope this helps and hopefully you can put it to use at the NAF18 Northerns (Twin Cities Regatta) in a couple of weeks. Good luck to you and Cab.

See you again soon.
JB


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 7:45 am 
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Joined: Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:09 am
Posts: 28
Location: Ottawa Canada
thanks for the good advice. we are racing in Burlington this weekend so we will see if we can work it out.

nice form John (picture)
we are still up in the air about Twin Cities, but more yes than no. Thanfully Cabot doesnt mind driving all over North America just so we can play :D

moyra


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:47 am 
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Site Rank - Admiral

Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 6:41 pm
Posts: 210
Location: Commerce Twp, Michigan
Hi Moyra,

Maybe a little bribe :wink: will help you and Cabot decide about Twin Cities. I'll chip in some gas $$$ (USD or CDN) if you can pick up Giselle when you pass through Toronto on your way over. She's going to make the trip anyway but it would be better if she had travel companions. Hope this sways you :D

John


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:01 am 
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Joined: Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:09 am
Posts: 28
Location: Ottawa Canada
heeeheeeheheee, i think i got it!!

the wind was the right srength for getting the hull out of the water and wheeling on downwind! it was kind of like riding a bike hands free through a slamom course :lol:

thanks again

m


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