Well, it was a tough job but someone had to do it: Two weeks on Lake Garda with an F16.
It was a 2,000 mile round trip with the boat in tow, but well worth the effort. It was the perfect boat to have on holiday: Ann and I would sail around until it was declared "sun bathing time" whereupon we'd come in, drop the jib, have 5 minutes rest, and I'd hoon around for the rest of the afternoon.
For anyone unfamiliar with Lake Garda, think 370 sq. km of fresh water sailing, with perfect, predictable winds. I'm still wondering what I'm doing back in England <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
why did you break down the boat for the trip? Just curious..
Garda looks terrific in your pictures! Did you notice the well known bend in the wind around the cliffs <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
It looks so very flat, and the luff seems loose as well. Is it set the way Ullman recommend? I am just wondering as the shape in those pictures looks so different from what I am used to see. Might be just a trick of the light..
Finally, did you get to square up with the 49er visible in the first picture? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
I thought for quite a while about whether to break the boat down or not, and in the end I was really glad I did it. German contra-flows, the Alpine roads and some of the roads around Garda are all pretty narrow. I tow it flat around the UK, but for a total of about 40 hours driving, having it narrower than the car made it far more relaxing (and also meant that Ann was prepared to do some of the driving...)
As for the kite, I must confess I didn't check the luff tension while I was there, but I've done it before and it's been just a little slacker than a fistfull turned to 90 degrees. I've found that I've I set it much tighter I get the luff flapping constantly (a fast buzzing in the front few inches, rather than a normal curl). Sat in the boat, it looks how kites normally look to me, so it may just be the angle of the photos.
Sadly, I didn't notice the 49er there until I saw the photo, so I didn't get a chance to show them how it was done <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Lake Garda introduced me to a new form of waterbourne obstacle: similar to windsurfers in their tendency to regularly switch between beam reaching at high speed and sitting almost invisible in the water, kite surfers add 20m of airbourne lines used to catch passing masts... Posing for these photos meant sailing straight across the kite/wind-surfing band, so I wouldn't have noticed anything that was on an immediate collision course <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Paul
Re: Blade does Lake Garda
[Re: pdwarren]
#83640 08/29/0603:45 AM08/29/0603:45 AM
As for the kite, I must confess I didn't check the luff tension while I was there, but I've done it before and it's been just a little slacker than a fistfull turned to 90 degrees. I've found that I've I set it much tighter I get the luff flapping constantly (a fast buzzing in the front few inches, rather than a normal curl). Sat in the boat, it looks how kites normally look to me, so it may just be the angle of the photos.
Paul
Once one has determined the point where one has the proper "fist rotation" how does one repeat this hoist? Does one mark his halyard? It seems to me that one cannot place a bead on his halyard to stop it at the spin cleat. Is there another method of positive stoppage?
You adjust your spi pole height so that you have the correct tension when the knot stops in the halyard block. This needs to be re-done if you change mast rake (if you want optimum performance). The "fist rotation" is just a rule of thumb to get you going. Depending on the cut of the spi and your sailing, you need to fine tune it for your best performance.
My Blades pole is fixed at two points (front beam and compression strut). So pre-bend would adjust it but I think that that is the wrong path. Since I typed my question I realized that one could put a stopper on the halyard at the head of the sail. Couldn't I?
My Blades pole is fixed at two points (front beam and compression strut). So pre-bend would adjust it but I think that that is the wrong path. Since I typed my question I realized that one could put a stopper on the halyard at the head of the sail. Couldn't I?
The Pole is designed to be relatively fixed. Prebend is placed in the pole of about 2" or so to support it so the bridals are working when loaded. We went with a soft bale at the mast head to provide additional adjustment for the spin luff. By shorteneing or lenthening the line running from the halyard pulley to the saddle you effect the luff tension. You do not have to mess with hoists and stoppers when playing with varying mast rakes. If running different spins or varying other settings drastically you should always mark your halyard anyway so that you can easily see that it is hoisted to the same place each time.
M
Re: Blade does Lake Garda
[Re: Matt M]
#83645 09/01/0605:44 PM09/01/0605:44 PM