Timbo made a statement about "lucky puffs" when working the spinnaker in light air. He's being modest. He seems to understand vmg very well. I on the other hand. . . <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

So what's the secret?! How do you choose the best downwind course?

SPEED

Pete, we were on an inland lake, light air. In those conditions I look for ripples on the water and go there. Stuart Walker and many other guru's have said in those conditons, "Stay out of the middle, go to the edge of the lake."

But in that kind of really light air, I do think luck has a lot to do with it. Of course the top guys seem to get lucky -all the time-, so skill must be mixed in there somewhere. The skill would be to notice where the wind is better and go there.

In a race with stronger and more consistant direction, speed is the only thing that matters downwind, more speed makes you sail deeper, then, you are sailing more toward the leeward mark. At least that's the theory. Making it happen is a whole different ballgame though.

Oh, and did I mention I live on an inland lake that features light air? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Easiest way is to have a similar boat to pace against. One goes high and one goes low and compare.

Nice! And what if you are in the head-on current and the other guy isn't? Or what if you have your spin sheeted in tighter than the other guy when the light puffs do hit you on an inland lake? What if you got your fat butt on the back of the boat while the other guy is camping out in front of the front main beam? What if you have extreme mast rake 'cause you were expecting a heavy wind day (or forgot to change from the last heavy wind race) and the other guy is way forward for power?

Tom

Ps. Hey, where's Mini(ME)!! I'm thinking this guy is Wouter's mean little alter ego.

pps. This post was meant to make folks think about the other variables. It was not an attack on any person, place, or thing! Use the "Speed" quote 'cause it would not take away from my own marvelous post!

Most of the above relates to the VMG antonym: Wasted effort and time going the wrong way. So the 'secret' in true mini me style is there in front of you. Velocity (speed of movement in a given direction) Made (performed, produced, created) Good (high quality, beneficial)
In other words I think the answer was in the question <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I found that allow the very top of my mainsail to have full draft helps alot. It allows you to quickly lift the luff hull and then drive deep following the spi. If you can keep the luff hull up by making long s-curve then the boat (my boat) feels very balanced. Things like leehelm dissappear and most of time I can just keep a single spi sheet setting while I steer through the gusts and wind direction changes.

I feel that this most come very close in concept and feel to wildthinging a catamaran like the A-cat except you don't nearly sheet as often or accurately.

My boat seems to respond very well to this and I'm still the quickest F16 under spi of my club, the others are just getting back at me by killing me upwind !

I get this setup by releasing alot of downhaul and some mainsheet, when needed I adjust my mast rotation as well.

Wouter

...and once you've compared, make a decision to change course or maintain it.

A general rule, high in the lulls, low in the gusts.

I am not certain what you are asking about Pete. Best course, i.e. finding the best wind, how to set up the boat or both?

The best course. In this instance, Tim was all over the lake, in light air! And it worked! In the last race he caught Matt and Gina from behind.

That is the whole reason to 2 boat test. Those variables and a host of ones not mentioned are all factors in making the boat go faster.

In an event like Eustis where there are random puffs across the lake and sections where there is 0 pressure, trying to analyze technique is not really worth the effort. Get to where you think there may be wind and do not make any course changes if you do not have to.

If there is breeze to actualy race, then work on your technique. Get the sail trim and weight ballance in the ball park, then concetrate on helming the boat. Pick a course with 90 degree apparent wind. Then practice comming up and falling off about 3-5 degrees and feel what the boat does. If you come up and there is no acceleration or if light wind, no added pressure in your main sheet, then the aded distance makes for bad VMG, so head back down. In general you are tying to gain as much hull speed as possible. The trick while you are learning to feel it, is to not just come up untill the hull flies. In the lighter stuff this is likely way too far.

Time on the boat so you can feel the subtle variations is the key.

M

Ahh! Just the little golden nugget I was hoping for! Thanks Matt. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Tom: Smack from a guy who doesn't even have a boat!? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> I'm gonna ask Ding to have a litlle talk with you! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

There is so much to light wind sailing that it can fill a whole book. One of the best books on the subject, and lots of other interesting stuff, is Frank Bethwaites "High performance sailing". If you can chew trough and understand what he writes in the first section of his book, you will know most of what there is to know on the subject. I have read trough his weather section lots of time, but I still find new and interesting things there.

General advice, keep to the edges as you are likely to find more wind there. Keep an eye on the locals <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> and try to find a system to the puffs. Often there is some kind of system to it.. Go to the wind if possible, and try to map a route trough the puffs to the finish line. Often you can see the various areas with pressure and all you have to do is link them up before they die. Good sunglasses with polarized lenses can help if you know what to look for.

I borrowed (stole) this from my brother's apt when I went to NYC for his wedding. I started reading it... wow... in depth stuff. I like the pics of the boat with the streamers all the way up the mast to show what direction the apparent wind is at different points of the mast in light through heavier winds. Lots of info in the book, LOTS... like you could study it for months and still learn stuff.

Light air days seem to be the norm in the summer months around here. So you might as well make it be your friend instead of your foe. Two weekends ago while you were off to Eustis, we had our usual club race at GYC- gone were the A-cats and the usual top f16 sailors (you know whom I mean) we had 1-f16 2-Hobie 16 and 1-Hobie 14 now all but the hobie14 were skippered by some what novice sailors.
So the first race I head towards the A mark on starboard tack heading out into the middle of the bay. All the while I'm watching Tony on the H14 hugging the shore. I don't think I need to tell you who rounded the A mark first. So thats that and race one is done. Race 2 I run a similar course as I saw Tony run in race 1 and what you know good air,better pointing and more speed.
So the local knowledge or knowledge of the conditions in similar areas can make a hugh difference in your abilities. Now I love to race, actually I sail to race, but I find when I am racing, I concentrate on the boats around me and focus on them more and not on the sailing elements. Now when I practice there is usually not to many boats around and all I have is the elements and the boat to focus on.
So I think a combination of the two, racing and practicing can really help compliment each other.
The one thing I have read over and over on this forum
is get out there and sail and that is what I am doing. So sometime instead of coming up for the race come up to practice, get out there and sail with just your boat and or your crew.
My schedule for this weekend, Friday afternoon take the wife out for the Sunfish sailing let her get some expierence with herself and just the boat, Saturday afternoon I'm out for some F16 practice and Sunday take the wife out for some F16 practice. It is suppose to be a gorgeous weekend with good air.
All this while you will be at JPOR.

One thing that Commodore Bob has mentioned to me several times is, he would like to get a sailing clinic going on the Fourth Saturday of every month with the main purpose of learning and practicing.Using our expierenced sailors to help our not so expierenced sailors and who knows maybe they might learn a thing or two from us. This sounds like an excellent idea to me and I think I shall help him get it off the ground and rolling.
Hey all you out there have fun at JPOR. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I think it's important not to sheet the mainsail out too much.
I also believe some luck is involved but the big guys are always in front, light or heavy winds.

Gill

Double T, I am not going to JPOR, I live 6 miles from GYC, mind if I join you? I will be UNI-Rigged. I have not been able to sail in such a long time that I am losing my mind.

I am not a member of GYC yet either, so I honestly have no idea where to rig and sail out of.

Drop me a PM and I can reply with my number. I am interested.

Thanks Todd, we will. I'll be "home" for the October series and Area D.