Wow, are you getting a lot of information! There are a lot of factors in the speed of a boat. If it’s a 1987, is the sail a 1987? Is it crisp? If not borrow one from a friend on a practice day.
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<br>Where do you sail,? Are there others around you? Is there a Hobie Fleet near you? If so see what the “fast” people are doing.
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<br>The shrouds post is a good one, but they are all different. Yours may be stretched and thus the mast too far forward.
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<br>This will not be a complete list but:
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<br>Assume moderate wind: under 15 knots.
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<br>1) Get the mast rake in the ball park - Check mast rake by taking the main halyard and, using the markings on the halyard (the little lines in the halyard) measure the rake by rigging the boat then, take the Halyard to the bow and place you finger on the spot of the halyard where it touches the bottom of the bow lip. Now (keeping this spot on the halyard referenced with your finger), got to the bottom of the rear of the hull and find the spot where the halyard touches the rear most point of the keel. Count the lines between your two points. If it’s 11 – 14 lines, you’re in the ball park (mark the jib halyard with a piece of electrical tape where it reaches the black band on the mast for reference). If not, change your jib halyard tension to achieve 11 – 14 lines. If your main is too blown out, this may be hard to achieve.
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<br>2) Also, while achieving this, the jib and the main should be set so that it will not quite two block in shore.
<br>On shore: Pull in the main tight, now pull in the jib tight. Do they come in too easy? , too hard? With the 11-14 achieved above, you should be able to adjust where you tack the jib to the chain plate (on the bridle) to change the amount you can pull in on the jib and its’ relationship to the way the jib two blocks. You should have about two inches between blocks on shore.
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<br>3) Assuming you did 1 and 2 to satisfaction – set the down haul. Do this by taking the wrinkles out of the main (more down hull for heavy air – but many things change in heavy air and we are just trying to get you in the ball park). Too much down hull and you de-power too much.
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<br>Follow other’s suggestion about rudder rake and points of sail too. AND - Practice - Practice - Practice - .
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<br>If the sail is too blown out – borrowing another sail will be quite a difference. Even borrowing a boat can make a few lights go off. Find a Hobie fleet in your area and join. They should be able to help.
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<br>Also – Being a 1987 boat – you should have a “light boat”, the weight change was 1984, but 350 is a “healthy” crew weight. Min., weight is 285. That doesn’t mean you aren’t competitive in B and C fleet however. In B & C fleet, it boat rigging and handling. You can do it. Good luck.
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