Earlier I mentioned the bimble to the traveller.
This is now fixed and the tightening the screws on the track did the trick!
After a days racing, no wear and tear.....as one would expect!
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Racing a Musto Skiff over a windward leward course
The Musto Skiffs at QM are faster than me and I am nowhere near them, yet.
I think I have a lot to learn about going fast upwind, that seems to be the difficult bit, I need to get the mast rake correct.
I think I have a lot to learn about going fast upwind, that seems to be the difficult bit, I need to get the mast rake correct.
Racing an RS700 in between races
Ok this is the weird bit....I just can't work out what is going on with speed.
Having previously been talking about how difficult it was to beat the RS400's today I had a bit of a moment when I was sailing downwind with an RS700 chasing me.
We were both in quite a nice breeze and I was ahead by 2-3 boat lengths, RS700 (prob a force 3)
When a bigger gust hit me and I had to bear off to keep the D-One flying, the speed difference between us was marginal.
I have to say until today I hadn't quite believed the video footage in Garda of the racing the 700.
Let me also say that as soon as the 700 went higher a bit and really used his trapeze caught a gust and went deeper again, he defininately speeded up a lot quicker, but I can honestly say that there were a few wonderful moments that I was able to keep him at bay.....amazing.
So here is the conundrum.....faster than a 700 on a straight stretch of water but struggle with the 400's Windward / Leward?.....go figure.
Faster than a 700 overall - no I dont think so, but good fun fending them off in a blow with the kite up. Brief moments of equal speed.
Trying to beat the 400's on the water Windward / Leward - difficult.....although I am messing around with the rig and learning all the time to see what works and what doesn't.
If I can keep up with the 400's upwind (difficult) I am a shed load faster downwind, when the wind is constantly up (force 3-4)
hmmm.
Having previously been talking about how difficult it was to beat the RS400's today I had a bit of a moment when I was sailing downwind with an RS700 chasing me.
We were both in quite a nice breeze and I was ahead by 2-3 boat lengths, RS700 (prob a force 3)
When a bigger gust hit me and I had to bear off to keep the D-One flying, the speed difference between us was marginal.
I have to say until today I hadn't quite believed the video footage in Garda of the racing the 700.
Let me also say that as soon as the 700 went higher a bit and really used his trapeze caught a gust and went deeper again, he defininately speeded up a lot quicker, but I can honestly say that there were a few wonderful moments that I was able to keep him at bay.....amazing.
So here is the conundrum.....faster than a 700 on a straight stretch of water but struggle with the 400's Windward / Leward?.....go figure.
Faster than a 700 overall - no I dont think so, but good fun fending them off in a blow with the kite up. Brief moments of equal speed.
Trying to beat the 400's on the water Windward / Leward - difficult.....although I am messing around with the rig and learning all the time to see what works and what doesn't.
If I can keep up with the 400's upwind (difficult) I am a shed load faster downwind, when the wind is constantly up (force 3-4)
hmmm.
Sunday racing
Well today was really strange.
Remember back in the Tuning guide I mentioned mast rake settings?
Mast Rake = 6m65 - 6m60 all wind conditions
Well I think that is a BIG mistake.
I was really really slow and couldn't even keep up with any of the RS400's.
So on the water I adjusted the rake by moving some chocks (really easy work, the mast is really light to move)
As it turned out I had adjusted it to 6m85 (so more upright)
This increased my speed by a shedload and I was back in contact with the 400's.
I still could not beat the on the water today.
I the first race it was quite light winds (and I was the wrong rake)
The second race the wind was building, and I think I may have over cooked the mast rake as I was a tad overpowered upwind.
Shame really as previously I have been mixing it with the leading 400's.
I did beat a 29er today in both races, but then....so did the 400's.
Remember back in the Tuning guide I mentioned mast rake settings?
Mast Rake = 6m65 - 6m60 all wind conditions
Well I think that is a BIG mistake.
I was really really slow and couldn't even keep up with any of the RS400's.
So on the water I adjusted the rake by moving some chocks (really easy work, the mast is really light to move)
As it turned out I had adjusted it to 6m85 (so more upright)
This increased my speed by a shedload and I was back in contact with the 400's.
I still could not beat the on the water today.
I the first race it was quite light winds (and I was the wrong rake)
The second race the wind was building, and I think I may have over cooked the mast rake as I was a tad overpowered upwind.
Shame really as previously I have been mixing it with the leading 400's.
I did beat a 29er today in both races, but then....so did the 400's.
Rememberance Day Sunday Race
Preparing to launch the mainsail was just in the track when I noticed I could not hoist.
The main halyard had popped off the wheel and jammed between the wheel and the carbon mast.
I was already at the waters edge....so it was a loong walk back up the side of the reservoir and back to the clubhouse steps to un jam it...I would be really late for the start.
So I was just wondering what to do when I remembered that the mast can just be lifted out of its collar.
Fabulous idea.
I untied the mast rope that keeps the mast intact in the event of a capsize, lifted the mast out and layed it on the ground.
Took the halyard out and popped the mast back in and re-tied it.
Wonderful, took 3 minutes!
:o)
The main halyard had popped off the wheel and jammed between the wheel and the carbon mast.
I was already at the waters edge....so it was a loong walk back up the side of the reservoir and back to the clubhouse steps to un jam it...I would be really late for the start.
So I was just wondering what to do when I remembered that the mast can just be lifted out of its collar.
Fabulous idea.
I untied the mast rope that keeps the mast intact in the event of a capsize, lifted the mast out and layed it on the ground.
Took the halyard out and popped the mast back in and re-tied it.
Wonderful, took 3 minutes!
:o)
Saturday bimble
I noticed that the rope that tied the mainsheet blocks to the traveller had worn through the outer layer.
Weird I thought....I better replace it before I end up with a handful of mainsheet and no control.
I was thinking of replacing it with thicker rope (current was 2mm Harken block rope wound round 3 times)
As I was threading it trhough I realised that a couple of screws for the track were not quite flush, thus causing the wear n tear.
So I tightened them up and put some new 2mm rope back on.
Bimble over ready to race on Sunday
Weird I thought....I better replace it before I end up with a handful of mainsheet and no control.
I was thinking of replacing it with thicker rope (current was 2mm Harken block rope wound round 3 times)
As I was threading it trhough I realised that a couple of screws for the track were not quite flush, thus causing the wear n tear.
So I tightened them up and put some new 2mm rope back on.
Bimble over ready to race on Sunday
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Scotland
Spent last weekend in sunny Scotland.
So no D-One behaviour....however this weekend is on.
Watch this space!
So no D-One behaviour....however this weekend is on.
Watch this space!
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