Think it would be a good idea to go ahead and add the self-tacker to our I-20 for the Tybee/any long distance race? Just seeing what the general consensus is.
Trey
I-20 314

Jeeze, I thought I was the only one WITHOUT an auto-tacker!

Maybe we could form an "old school" fleet.. No auto-tacker, no big rudders, no side laced tramp...??

Yeah, the 2001 model I got doesn't have an auto-tacker. Old-school fleet sounds good to me. We could wear 80's clothing and listen to early-90's techno. Sound like a plan?? J/K!!!!
Trey

yay

and my vote counts the most :P

ney

I like the trimability of the old style. Self tacker when youre tacking, but I think we only tacked about 20 times in 525 miles, seriously. Save the self tacker for the cans.

David

FYI, Team Tybee did not use their self tacker in last years Atlantic 1000 despite having it on the boat. They instead brought back the old style for the distance racing. Not exactly sure why. We did not, and still have not, installed a self tacker on ours. My thought as a skipper, it keeps the crew awake when the spin isn't up. (joking)
Chris
www.acceleratedchaos.com

Rumor has it that the original jib is ever so slightly larger, since you don't have to clear the auto-tack track. I'm not sure about the merits of this, however.

Around the cans, I can see a clear advantage in my case, as the deck gets littered with lines "old style", but I agree that the non-self tacker gives me that (probably mistaken) feel that I can adjust it more.

Of course, my jib(s) are pretty old, which probably detracts from the performance. Do they still sell new "old school" jibs?

I think the self tacker on the new Nacras is more adjustable than the original beam mounted system. In fact, it's easy to go crazy with all the various adjustments. I wouldn't shy away from adding a self tacker. It's definitely a plus around the cans but admitedly would make little difference in a distance race.

Jake

I remember a leg in the Worrell 1000 that we had around 100 tacks. I sure wish I had a self tacker then.

Yikes...ummm and uhhhh....yeah, get the self tacker. The crew has to have a hand free to hand the skipper his food sometime.