Did you mean to say this, or did you mean it the other way around?

Hm, I tought it is the job of the crew (and eventually the helmsman) to get the hull flying, and not the job of the boards? As an aerdynamics guy I would recommend to pull the windward board full up and leave the leeward completely down, if you need a board, and boath boards full up, if you don't need boards at all sailing downwind. Any thoughts?

Pulling boards up and pushing down on each jibe takes time and impedes VMG. Lots of testing on this was done on the Tornado, and the conclusion was to leave both boards down (and the T have real boards, swinging centerboards).
It might be different on a F16.

That's an excellent excuse for my lazyness:
"Tornado guys have tested it and say let the boards down downwind."

Sorry!! the other way around.. the wetted surface of the board is far less than the hull

My view....

Light wind (and I mean LIGHT so 0-2 kts, when the spi is almost not working).

Plates up about 50%, sail deep, around 90 to apparent wind.

As soon as the boat starts to move "properly", so maybe 3+ start to drive for speed as the F16 is light and has large sails you can build apparent wind as soon as the sails are working properly. Plates stay up around 25%

As soon as the hull starts to lift a little, plates down.

http://www.ahpc.com.au/Brett_SupportViper.htm

Light Winds: 1 -5 knots

Luff Tension - Off
Mast rotation - 80 deg
Mainsheet - Light
Mainsheet traveller - Out 100 – 200mm
Centreboard - Down
Jib sheet - Out, telltales flowing
Crew - Leeward, forward
Skipper - Windward, forward


Straight from the book of the current AUS f16 champ.. cant be all bad aye!

Ah, you ment the Viper manual further up
Are we celebrating the weekend perhaps?

Rolf:

Just in case you missed this.

http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=82523

Rolf,

the same advice is in the cap & viper manual.

ill be quiet now.... mmmkkkkaaayyyyyy

Moving around while not at speed is killing for boatspeed.
With light wind it is important to always move around very carefully (like walking on eggs!), probably even more so on the F16 than F18.
Although that counts mainly for going upwind it is something to keep in mind in general.

Try to get as much weight forward, when crewing I usually sit on the frontbeam (same goes for the helm).

On the Tiger the spin blocks are on the tramp between the shroud and the frontbeam.
Generally that position is fine for most conditions but in light winds I keep the sheet in
hand and push it down on the front beam, that way there is less twist but quite a bit more pressure.
You could also try experimenting with an adjustable barberhauler like some F18s have.

Thanks Pete. I dont read the forums over at SA, just not enough time and too much noise. This was quite interesting.

Those of you with good memories will remember these photo's taken last year when I experimented with an AFC Blade mainsail. The foot must have been a foot shorter than my Landy's mainsail so the more pressure I put on the mainsheet the more the mast rotation decreased (due to the angle of the mainsheet blocks pulling the boom towards the rear beam). This wasn't the biggest problem though, due to this differing angle the mainsheet cleated automatically and I couldn't uncleat until I was back on the tramp. Hence in the second photo I'm desperately trying to uncleat the traveller which I didn't do quick enough and the PRO had to fend me off the Committee boat.
I know this story doesn't have anything to do with light wind sailing but the angle of the mainsheet from beam to boom does have an affect on mast rotation. They are also nice photo's of sunshine and sailing which is fairly rare in these parts.

Nice photos

Mark,

The sky looks blue but you still have on the survival kit???? Where's the shorts and T

Re: the thread,

You guys are getting the cart before the horse. Going down wind is about stearing the proper course.

THEN trim the sail to match your wind.

Hi Matt,
What is the proper course? Is it with 90 degree apparent wind?
Thanks,

Shortest distance from windward to leeward marks and adjust accordingly for speed.

The sky looks blue but you still have on the survival kit???? Where's the shorts and T

Matt, you ever stick your...hand...in the water over there? It is frick'n COLD! Even in July.

Hey Mark, I was laying over in Brighton once and it was 82F (28C)!! You should have seen all the topless white (soon to be pink) flesh on the beach! I was all about helping rub some sunscreen on them but no takers! "Save the Tatas" I always say. Nothing worse (except maybe a burned Johnson) than a pair of scorched Tatas. My new sponsors website: http://www.savethetatas.com/

Hey Dermot, I heard there was a big anniversary yesterday, 250 years of Guiness? How did I miss that?! I'll have to have two tonight just to catch up!

Don't go there Matt.
I still remember your first attempt of Land Yachting!

I thought it was called -LAND- yachting??