Hi Gilo,
Upwind ->
10 knots: we could both double trap. Speed was the same. But they sailed higher. What could cause this? Below is the setting like it was on our boat and all seems ok? Am I missing something?
Our jib traveler was just before the 3rd hole on the track (I guess 15-20 cm out of the middle). All jib tell tales from top to bottom windward and leeward were flowing.
Mainsail centered, sometimes a bit of Cunningham. The top three batten telltales were flowing. The leeward telltale against the mast (spreader height) was flowing, the windward one was hanging down. Mast rotation was pointing to the daggerboards.
Ok, first of all: F16 mast height is 8.5 and F18 is 8.9 or so, then they have 2 feet more length and more sail area. They are heavier, but I am sure this is over-compensated by the sail area and mast height (supported by your observation of double trap at light winds).
Maybe rotate the mast less (pointing to the rear beam) to have less drag in the lower part of the sail, but then maybe you are under-powered.
Downwind ->
10 knots: Kathleen trapping out, daggerboards about 2/3 to 1/2 up, mastrotation out, cunningham released, main centered, main sheeted so the tell tales of top three battens could flow. In 'gusts' I eased the traveller a bit. We were sailing the same speed again, but the Infusion could sail deeper this time.
Second run we left the daggerboards down and I played the main (left the traveller in the center). In the gusts I sheeted in and in the lulls I sheeted out, so the tell tales kept on flowing all the time. Now we sailed faster then the Infusion, but about the same wind angle as we did on the first run, so higher then them.
Seems that sheeting the main is better. I usually use gusts to bear away and improve vmg, instead of easing the treveller or main, but I am a absolute beginner of this type of downwind sailing. Again the F18 has more sail area and length.
The infusion is a new F18, so I assume that they have good sails, and as you say, they are a good team as well...
My "sparing partner" is a F18 and a T as well. I am not sure if this helps me really. Sometimes I have the feeling that I learn more, if we are (or I am) alone on the water. Maybe because I play less with the trim and concentrate more on tiller and main sheet. I "listen" (or sense, feel) more to the boat instead of looking to the others and asking myself what is wrong. Maybe nothing is wrong. I hope that that is not to philosophic and helps a bit.
Cheers,
Klaus
