Hey everyone, just wanted to let you guys know there is more updates on the website at

http://boatsbikesboards.wordpress.com

on the latest prebend settings for the Viper.

We're really going towards a much more powered up rig on this boat as the width of the boat and the power of the downhaul seems to allow us to do that and still sail within a really wide range of conditions. Greg has also been moving towards a much more powered up setting for his viper.

Gill, with regards to opening up the main with the kite up, I can't really explain the aerodynamic forces, however, over the weekend, we experimented with opening up the main and easing the spin off about an arm's length while bearing off downwind (once the hull was already flying and there was a good bit of apparent wind) and we found that we could bear off and go deeper for a longer time before having to head back up to generate more apparent wind.

I actually found that by easing the main at the right time helped to power up the rig and keep our hull flying downwind. Hope this helps.