Here goes a question about boat handling: When sailing downwind with about 17 knots of onshore wind and 3-6 feet high and relatively short waves last weekend, we got "stuck" in quite a few waves after surfing down the crests and going into the next one. No pitchpoles, but this slows the boat down a lot and I suppose there should be some technique to reduce this.

I have been told to head up a little just before one finishes riding down the crest, but this of course is no option when there is too much power in the boat, so you dig the wave, want it or not. Crew is on trapeze and I am leaning back as much as I can, this is a Tiger. Any suggestions?

get a longer boat <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Spinnaker blown - get a new one.
It's windy day when you can realy feel the difference that a new kite makes.

I was always told to get a hull out of the water. You have to let the boat lift high enough before you start bearing away (something you really have to get used to).
Other alternative is playing safe and go flat downwind...

Most common mistake people make is over sheeting the kite when coming down a wave as the apparent drags around. As you come to the bottom and the boat slows down, the apparent will move aft. We all know what over sheeting does to a cat (drive the bows under)
Easing the kite as you get to the base of the wave and the boat begins to slow, will allow the shoulders (top of the kite) to lift in the kite creating more lift from the kite (lifting the bows). You can then head up as you are climbing the wave and power over the top....... Then repeat. A lot of sheet work required by the crew. Also smooth steering from the skipper and getting both skipper and crew in sync with each other. Practice, practice, practice.

Same goes when you encounter a smallish rouge wave in fairly flat water...... Or when you get hit by a big gust. A good ease not only opens up the kite, but the kite changes shape developing larger shoulders. Look at the shoulders on a skiff kite. They develop bucket loads of lift.

See below how the kite takes on such a different shape when eased.

Check out the shoulders on this R Class' kite and the lift it is developing.

This sounds very convincing TA, I'll try tomorrow as we expect similar conditions.

We have quite a lot of practice on the Tiger in these conditions. As skipper, get your head totally out the boat and focus on those waves. Then as you get hooked surfing down a face and you can see a fairly steep back on the wave ahead (which if you do nothing you will spear and slow down), turn her down while still surfing down the face - before the bottom of the trough. You'll present both hulls to the back of the next wave - avoiding sticking the leeward hull which brings you to a halt. Then as soon as you have hit the trough, bring it up to get the power to climb the back of the wave.

Now this takes a lot of practice - and to get it right think - turn down a little early, turn up a little early. If you turn down too late and up to late it will feel all wrong - and be almost as slow as stuffing the occasional wave - which is what happens if you try and drive hot without reacting to the waves.

My crew is a surfer - and he quite often makes calls on steep waves with narrow troughs - which are the ones that the Tiger loves to stuff in.

This is now some of my favorite sailing conditions - as it is a real challenge to keep it smooth and fast. You have to keep practicing until it becomes instinctual.

Chris.

great tips, thanks guys.

Flumpmaster, I think I got the idea but as you say it probably takes a lot of practice. Have been out yesterday with 20+ and quite big waves but even going down the waves with both hulls in the water would result in some though stuffs. Conditions were such however that we did not try to go "hot" anymore, we were just happy not to pitchpole <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> By the way, my crew is a surfer too and he really enjoys surfing with such a bg board <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I love sailing downhill with the kite in waves. It takes a great deal of concentration and anticipation but when you get it right, you feel it immediately.

What was the position of your dagger boards, main sheet traveller, main sheet tension?

Lift boards if the boat is getting tippy. Keep traveller centered and main sheet tension high - you don't want to expose too much main sail area up top - as when the boat slows if you dig in this will just make the stuff all the worse.

Try looking a few waves ahead for the 'problem wave' and then once you get over its back and onto the face turn down. I'm not suggesting going super conservative - as speed is your friend.

As skipper I will also try and throw my weight back - as will the crew out on the wire. Did you have someone out on the wire?


Chris

Dagger boards half up, traveller centered, maybe not enough sheat tension, there was quite some twist in the upper part. Cunningham a little released from full down position (2 inches released), outhaul tight. My crew was on the wire but he is only around 68 kgs, I try to lean back as much as I can. I guess I gotta get more confidence in the boat under these conditions.

Is this typical spin sheeting? it looks to be WAY out infront of the front beam? I realize the picture is slightly skewed but i have never seen anyone with such a deep pocket. Granted i dont sail with tornado's but lots of mystere's that use tornado spins.

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Thats a pic in loads of wind and the sheet (I think) has just been dumped - TA can confirm.

The crew still has the kite sheet in that pic.

Wind was averaging high 20s, gusting well into the 30s with big waves.

Below is the pic preceeding the other (Which many may have seen before) as we are surfing down the face of a wave.