Tried this at Port Kembla, after seeing Taipan coming downwind washing off power slipping sideways. It helped but how do you stop from hitting them when you slide forward when sitting on side. Mine are tapered all the way to the top, could do a nasty injury. Not a problem if you are trapezing though you generaly get thrown clear.

Regards Gary.

[quote]Gary,

From the photo's, it doesn't look like your running much rotation or reduced luff tension with the kite up.?? Is the mast that much stiffer now with the timber up the guts now or in the excitement did you forget & therefore your rig is very forgiving !!

Experience on the T tells me I go home with a broken mast if I didn't run 90 - 100 deg of rotation & reduce luff tension giving more pressure to the leech.!!

Are you going to try T-foils ??

Hi Marcus,

The timber in the mast seems to have made it indestructible (touch wood), I don't know about stiffer but it certainly is stronger, I try not to look up but it bends sideways beyond belief. Rotation and downhaul don't seem to bother it, I started off rotating more and letting downhaul off, but now I just let mega downhaul off from upwind in strong breeze to a normal position and don't even touch rotation from upwind have enough to do sailing single handed with kite. It's one of the things I like about sailing with spin. hardly touch mainsail adjustments at top mark if it's busy, just go for kite.

Not looking at T Foils at the moment I think my heavywind technique has been wrong under kite and will make more difference to stuffing bows in if I can get it right. Hopefully got some hints looking at Taipans and Blade at Port Kembla, just have to put it into practice.

Regards Gary.

Yeah your probably right it would have been faster with spin. down, speed does look good in second pic. was just using it for a brake. It is a 5kt. speed limit area after all.

Regards Gary.

I do have straps at back but so far still stuff it in on trapeze, only difference is higher speed sends me flying further through air . I am working on not doing this in future, trying to learn to depower, got some ideas last weekend that will work I hope

Wild thing doesn't seem to work at this downwind angle seems to still drive bows under. Also speed etc. is not as good, shorter boat, extra weight etc.

Regards Gary.

How do you stop from hitting them ? Chicken line. With a few smart mods it can be used just as well when sitting on hull as when trapping. You may have to make it adjustable in length though.

Wouter

Are your toe straps (for hiking on) on the Tramp continious along the tramp. My Inter 17 ones have a loop 1/2 way along that helps to keep you back - If I was not selling the boat I might consider putting another loop further back

Gary,

I was kinda hinting a a small spinnaker.......why not?...


..a heavy air spinnaker you know.




Bruce

Hi Bruce,

I have considered that. One up does have a load of sail area, but at a reggatta recently I was reminded why it is better to learn how to handle what you have.

It was very gusty seemed to be building I was wishing I had a smaller kite to rig, but the wind dropped out if anything and I was able to record a good finish position as I was powered up downwind.

Glad I didn't have a smaller kite to change to. See my new thread I think I have it under control now.

Regards Gary.