What angles do cat rig sailors use in 15+knots (20-25gusts)?
Was keeping the teltails at 90Deg sitting as far back as possable and a bullet hit me bows went down I tryed to round up but it was all over <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
any tips.
Cheers
Ps had a great day. Good between race entertainment with a hobie 16 Doing speed runs near the start line. ended in a massive pitch pole <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Ben,

It's always fun watching a Hobie 16 pitch pole particularly when it's in front of you. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

As for angles etc. there are so many factors contributing to the solution; did you have your traveller all the way out ? was the outhaul far enough out for the conditions ? was the downhaul set to flatten the mainsail ?

If it all gets too much and it can <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> then just ease the tension off the mainsheet and let the top of the mainsail exhaust the excess.

Regards,


Peter

Hey Peter,
Had traveller all the way out and eased main sheet, probably not enough out hall & downhall.
Just got caught out comeing down a small wave <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />Big gust
It will help if there are some conditions like this at the nationals so I can follow the experts.

Ben,

In the really testing conditions I don't even touch the outhaul or downhaul from what I had set going upwind. I'd rather get around the course upright than pitch poleing. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Apart from that I'm too bloody busy just concentrating on staying on course, watching for bullets, watching the bows and avoiding other yachts. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Regards,

Peter

Yeah pittwater was packed <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />.
A30+ft tri called big bird came thru doing 20+knots.
It was great fun <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />.
It was only in that race I had a chance to adjust down hall & out hall maybee I shouldent have <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

ben, the angles are generally controlled by the "apparent wind". basically when you go downhill, the faster you go the more the apparent wind goes forward. therefore your angles are controlled by the speed that you travel at. the faster you go, the lower you can sail. the other thing to remember is when you go downhill, if you get hit by a gust, dont round up, you have to bear away... and enjoy the jump to hyperspace

Hi Ben
If you are talking about real downwind sailing (rather than reaching) the angle for a cat rigged Mosquito is with the boom at 90 degrees to the wind with the boom out as far as it goes which should be about 10cm to 20cm off the sidestay (so the boat is only aiming about 20 degrees off the wind if that). This goes for pretty much any wind strength.

If it's really howling you may have to sheet in a bit to stop the top twisting forward of the mast and pushing you over to windward - that doesn't happen often.

Doing wide downwind angles like the Taipans, Hobies and sloop rigged Mosquitoes will feel fast but you will not get to the leeward mark as quick.

Watch the shifts in the wind and keep switching to the gybe that takes you nearest to the course for the mark.

Like Hagar said, if you are reaching then you must bear away in a gust rather than luff up. Bear away in gusts and you will often have to let out some mainsheet at the same time (never cleat the main) - the mainsheet will almost immediately need to come back in so this is where your arms get a good work out. You are trying to keep the windward hull just out of the water. You will sometimes see a skipper on trapeze steering with the tiller under their armpit so they can use both hands to constantly adjust the main.

If nosediving is a problem get both hulls in the water so there's more buoyancy up front - this means sailing lower or easing the main or getting or trap or any combination of these.