I thought the whole idea was to find 90 degrees apparent wind and keep it. Gybing when necessary to stay on the "best" course to the mark.

Yes? No? Maybe?

It mainly has to do with your speed and the concept of driving up to build up speed and then playing with turning down to try to optimize your speed and VMG to the C mark. The ability to fly a hull downwind- just barely out of the water) has a lot to do with the weight balance on the boat, etc. In the end you have to find the sweet spot which maximizes speed/VMG. I think it is hard to define it as a 90 deg thing although I know where you are coming from with that as that is what a lot of books say. Play the feel of the course, not the defined 90 or 100 or 80 or whatever angle

If the wind is greater than 7, I do everything I can to get and keep one hull out of the water at all times. I don't end up paint too much attention to the angle of apparent wind, but it is usually 90 or a little less. I still find I'm sailing much deeper than the A-cats and sloops w/o spin.

I set the main and traveller according to the tell tales and then trim the spin continuously as well as keep adjusting my weight and position on the boat.

There is a magic point when you forget about heading and focus on flying a hull (it was about 7kts on the Inter 17, and I have no idea yet where it is on the F16, but I'm sure it's lower), heading downwind will come when the speed builds, the hull flys and then you have to bear off.

90deg is probably a good target for when you are moving real slow, once the boat is starting to drive, it might be tighter than that.

I'm still very very much learning my F16 - but it's Fun <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I think 90 deg is a bit deep for anything but strong wind. The tell-tales are useful in those marginal conditions where you're wondering if there's enough wind to fly a hull, but above that, do it by feel - get a hull out and keep it there.

On thing I learnt when sailing against the F18s at Grafham last year was don't be afraid of going too high. I was worried about going much higher than 90deg apparent wind, but even in the really light stuff it pays to get boat speed . Go somewhere fast <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Paul

Paul,

I was talking about just before you get to real drifting conditions where you are just trying make progress with very little pull in the sails. As soon as the sails are pulling at all, I agree; you head up hard and get the apparent wind building.

Gave it a try today! Albeit, with limited success, but it is definitely a "tool" I will try to master.

Great day at GYC! Winds around 10-12 knots out of the East, with occassional gusts to 15 or maybe a little higher. Was doing fairly well until I turned the boat over (twice) and missed a mark! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Good food, good people and gorgeous spring weather! And my crew is still speaking to me.

Amazing what can occur when you regularly talk to yourself! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

ooooooooooooohhhhhhh dem be fighting werds <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

It's okay! Pay backs are (sentence enhanced)! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I seem to have some success with VMG in very light conditions easing the spin halyard, to increase the luff a couple of inches then going deeper. As previously noted, adjust trim accordingly.

Being new to spins, here's my question. I heat the boat up. hull starts to lift, I bear off gradual and smooth, but the aparent wind still comes forward and collapses the spin. Am I supposed to sheet in as the aparent comes forward? To bear off more seems to just stall the boat. Basically, should I be trimming the chute or leave it set and drive to it? Thanks. Ed

Ed,

The spin will need constant trimming but in very small increments. I know I am in the groove when I am having to move no more than 6-8 inches to keep it full and flowing.

If you find your apparent switching, especially to the point of coming so far forward as to collapse the sail, you are either comming up way too far or waiting to bear off too long. You want to remember that you are comming up to get additiional hull speed, not necessarily to try and fly the hull. As you are learning, try to keep the ratchets off so you can feel the sail. When rounding up you want to only go up as far as where you are feeling increased pressure in the sail. At this point hold it steady and try very small increments of up and down to judge relative hull speed and try to maintain the pressure in the sail. Adjust your crew weight accondingly then depending on the conditions so that at this point you can get the windward hull up (if it is not too gusty or wavy and you feel comfortable)

This is very critical when the wind is lighter. When it is blowing it is very easy to feel the hull speed change with the tiller. When it is light is is very easy to way over steer and go very slow. When it is light downwind my crew tells me constantly how to drive based on the pull on their sheet. Cat sailing is all about maximizing hull speed. Whe it is right, you are fast and the apparent wind will stay very steady even if the conditions are not.

M

Excellent info Matt.
Thanks

I have found that it is very easy to oversheet the spin especially in light air. I am still learning the best combo of triming/helming to make the go the way it is supposed to. I understand the concept of driving to the spin but when I am crewing I always try to make sure the spin is "breathing" regardless of the helming (takes a lot of effort but I think you clearly get more speed out of it than only driving to the spin)

On the Tornado in light air and small chop, I've found taking the spin sheet from the crew allowed me to coordinate helming & sheeting much much better. This might not be better once you & crew have lots & lots of experience...but it sure helped us gain lots of places and eventually to finish 1st in a distance race last year.

Other tips I've learned...never oversheet the spin...if in doubt, ease it out and keep it on the verge of collapse/luff curling periodically for max power.

To carry the spinny higher in a breeze, try easing off halyard and/or tack line. This has the effect of flattening the luff, thus de-powering and giving more "point" to the sail.

In light stuff, crew goes to leeward and at or forward of the main beam...leans outboard holding trap handle. Helm sits as forward as possible (dependant on tiller length) and moves in board, typically near the mast. This lets us lift the hull in some really light stuff. But, don't make the mistake of trying to lift it at all other costs. There comes a wind speed when it just doesn't pay to keep heading up...sail flat and go for VMG...just be ready for the puffs to get the hull out.

Thanks much guys. This will my first Tuesday night race with the Blade tonight. Conditions are supposed to be typical Ches Bay 5 to 10. It will be a good chance to work with the other F-16s to get some groove on.

This is one of Roy's images from the 2007 Alter cup. Compare the sail twist and mast bend between boats 2 and 6.
Try to be like 2.

increase rotation and blow downhaul right?

I guess you were allowed to add streamers to the boats huh?

Also note the mainsheet on boat six. IMO way to slack.