| Need help figuring out the A class #55770 08/23/05 09:33 AM 08/23/05 09:33 AM |
Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 9 Singapore CarbonatedCat OP
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 9 Singapore | Hi everyone, this is my first post and I'm really happy to be logged on and part of this community after lurking around for the last 6 months. I am currently sailing a taipan 4.9 and have recently had the good fortune of acquiring a AHPC MK 4 A class with a big head main. I was hoping if the A class sailors on this forum could help me answer the following questions.
1. All the information I have read about the A class states that when going upwind, I should keep the traveller centered. However, if i was racing in 25+ knots of breeze, maxed out on my downhaul, centered my rotation, should I drop my traveller at this point or just keep easing main? or should I do a mixture of both? 2. In really light winds where i cannot go wild, how far out should I let my traveller? 3. Has sitting to leeward to induce the wild thing in lighter winds paid off? 4. does the amount of sidestay tension make any difference to the performance?
Any information would be great, thanks in advance.
Last edited by CarbonatedCat; 08/23/05 09:35 AM.
| | | Re: Need help figuring out the A class
[Re: CarbonatedCat]
#55771 08/23/05 10:12 AM 08/23/05 10:12 AM |
Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 396 Annapolis Md. LuckyDuck
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 396 Annapolis Md. | Welcome to the A Class!! I'm no expert but will give you my two cents worth to get you going.
1) Yes. After all else start lowering the traveler. I would keep the main sheet tight as long as possible to keep the sail as flat as possible. Sometimes if the boat feels bound up, it pays to ease the sheet just a bit to let the top vent so you can bear off a little and go.
2) The further you let the traveler out the deeper you can go but slower. With the traveler up at the inside of the hull or at the foot strap you can heat the boat up and play the stall to get low. Its hard to tell how well things are working without another boat to sail against. Hopefully your Taipan is still close by and you can sail against it. Light air downwind on the uni-rig is an art that only comes with an investment in time.
3) Yes. In marginal wild thing conditions he who can get a hull up scoots and sitting on the low side to do so is nothing to be ashamed of. Again a lot of practice is needed here. In marginal wild thing conditions I will not attemp it in a race because I'm not good enough to make it pay as opposed to sailing flat and smooth.
4) I'm in the dark here. All I can say is that my side stay is in the third hole from the top on the standard factory fitting. I'm lucky in that I can copy the fast guys setup but don't always know why something works.
Hopefully some of the guys with the right answers will chime in and help us both out.
Ed
Still hazey after all these beers. F-16 Falcon #212
| | | Re: Need help figuring out the A class
[Re: CarbonatedCat]
#55772 08/23/05 12:43 PM 08/23/05 12:43 PM |
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 138 California! Inter_Michael
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Posts: 138 California! | OK..Im not the best...but here goes. Having just come back from getting schooled in the US Nats...NONE of those guys travel down in big air. Lots O' downhaul, under rotation are the key....do NOT use the jaws, and play the main.
I cant tell you about downwind, as I got creamed all day long!
As for shroud tension, AHPC says about 120lbs of tension (15 on the loos gauge) Keep in mind, this is on the side stay and not the forestay, and to adjust the tension, you must adjust the kitty corner forestay. (starboard shroud is adjusted by port forstay.)
Hope this helps. Also, for peak performance, you must tune your mast sail combo. Play with spreader rake, lenght, and diaomd tension.
Michael AHPC Flyer, USA 187 | | | Re: Need help figuring out the A class
[Re: CarbonatedCat]
#55774 08/24/05 06:40 PM 08/24/05 06:40 PM |
Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 396 Annapolis Md. LuckyDuck
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enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 396 Annapolis Md. | Again - I'm no expert but here's my take.
The center sheeting is a personal preference. I grew up on cats and the main blocks were always on the back of the boat, and thats where they'll stay for me. People who have more time on dhingys tend to prefer the center sheeting. Whether one is faster in tacking or provides better leverage is a good question. Cleating is again a personal preference. I am currently without a cleat and definately don't miss it on the bouys courses but it is good to have on the distance races or when cruising.
I have the AHPC Flyer and mast rake has never really had the level of impact that it would on other boats i.e. H-20 etc. Its like a Popeel Roticery Oven, set it, and forget it.
Sounds like you've got great taste in boats. All you need locally now is a Capricorn to have the entire AHPC line. F-16, F-18 and A Class. They build great boats don't they?
Ed
Still hazey after all these beers. F-16 Falcon #212
| | | Re: Need help figuring out the A class
[Re: CarbonatedCat]
#55776 08/24/05 10:31 PM 08/24/05 10:31 PM |
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 1,037 Central California ejpoulsen
old hand
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old hand
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,037 Central California | there's only one cat dealer here in Singapore ...Right now, they are dealers for AHPC so all we get are AHPC boats Seems pretty lucky to me.
Eric Poulsen A-class USA 203 Ultimate 20 Central California
| | | Re: Need help figuring out the A class
[Re: CarbonatedCat]
#55779 08/27/05 04:24 AM 08/27/05 04:24 AM |
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 3,528 Looking for a Job, I got credi... scooby_simon Hull Flying, Snow Sliding.... |
Hull Flying, Snow Sliding....
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,528 Looking for a Job, I got credi... | it is usually this :
1, attach line to the trap wire so it can hang down enough to reach the point where the bridal attaches to the hull (remove the shock cord first); swing the line forward 2, Hold you finger at the point the line hits the hull (or some other "class agreed point") 3, swing your hand back untill the "mark / finger" bisects the hull aft; measure this relative to some fixed oiunt (rear beam; transoms etc). This gives you a "rake measurement" which can then be compared.
F16 - GBR 553 - SOLD I also talk sport here | | | Re: Need help figuring out the A class
[Re: Inter_Michael]
#55781 08/27/05 05:39 PM 08/27/05 05:39 PM |
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 3,528 Looking for a Job, I got credi... scooby_simon Hull Flying, Snow Sliding.... |
Hull Flying, Snow Sliding....
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,528 Looking for a Job, I got credi... | Sorry for assuming...you know what they say!
Take your trap wire and add a bit of line to it. Then swing it forward until the line hits the base of the thimble (forestay). Keep that point as a ref. point, then take that to the back of the boat. Measure where that point hits. It should hit around 20mm aft of the beam for all conditions. Keep in mind, this works for the ahpc flyer. Anybody know about the Mk series?
Hope this helps,
Michael I think I said that above
F16 - GBR 553 - SOLD I also talk sport here | | |
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