We’ve been working on our spinnaker takedowns this year and made some good progress. We’ve become pretty comfortable with the floater, the stretch-and-blow, and our favorite this spring, the windward. Timing has been another issue, a couple of time we got a little greedy and waited too long resulting in sailing well past the [...]
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One of the fun things that’s been happening with sailing is the improvement in the video presentation of our sport. Here’s a great one, on board the Italian TP52 Luna Rossa at the Med Cup in Barcelona. Lots of great stuff to see and enjoy, or as we say on the Bay, “L’ultima regata [...]  A Swift Solo I recently was given the opportunity to attempt to race a Swift Solo skiff in the Columbia River Gorge. When my 505 crew and good Colorado buddy Philip Ryan told me of the possibility of getting a loaned boat I thought, “Go down to the Gorge to sail an overpowered singlehander with a main, jib and a HUGE kite all while hanging on a trapeze? Sounds like what I call fun!” In the back of my mind I knew there was a distinct possibility I would be blown off the river. I’ve sailed there three times previously and it blew like stink every time. Figuratively, I was blown off the river and the conditions were hairy enough that it seemed literally possible too! THE BOAT The Swift Solo is an odd bird to say the least (I couldn’t resist the pun). It was designed in 2000 by the Northwest’s own Bram Dally as a trainer for the 49er. The boat has a ridiculous amount of sail for a singlehander, but is rigged and designed in such a way it is actually quite manageble in up to moderate conditions. What sets is apart from other skiffs, is these are gorgeous bright-finished cedar strip boats. They are modern in their construction though with an Carbon/Kevar/Epoxy inner skin, and an S Glass/Epoxy outer skin, resulting in a light, yet very strong boat. The boat is designed and built with longevity in mind, and the main and jib are both fully battened to that effect as well. A recent video on the rules from US Sailing. Good article from the May 2010 issue of Sailing World by Dan Rabin on the best crew practices. It’s a team sport… @Stuart Streuli One evening a few years ago I had the opportunity to drive a J/24. I had logged countless hours as a tactician and bowman on the boat, but I’d [...] Second part of an article from Bill Gladstone of North U on the US Sailing site. A proper turn is just the first part of a tack. Part II – The Acceleration will complete the tack. As noted before, all the losses from tacking accrue during this critical second phase. Typically, (on keelboats) losses [...]
As mundane as they may seem, good tacks are essential to good racing. Make each tack a little better and you’ll save a few boat lengths every race. Tacks can be divided into two parts: The Turn, and The Acceleration. Surprisingly, after The Turn you are ahead in VMG of where you would have been had you not tacked. All the losses due to tacking accrue during the critical second part – The Acceleration. We’ll look at “The Turn” this week… We are always ready to tack. Unless we’re on the layline, as we complete one tack the expected next maneuver is another tack. As soon as one tack is complete we prepare for the next one. At “Ready About” do nothing, or at least, as little as possible. If hiked and sitting out board then one crew may need to turn inboard, but is it slow to have the entire crew turn in and stop hiking at “Ready About.” This slows the boat going into the tack and the penalty compounds throughout the tack. At “Ready About” you should hike harder as one crew member turns in and prepares for the jib release. At the helm, do NOT wind up (by which I mean, do not bear off onto a close reach) in preparation for tacking. Just keep sailing close hauled. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to learn the rules from a master, and for a great cause. Lecture begins at 6pm tonight at the Northwest Maritime Center. (See post below for more details) The Seattle area author of Sailing World magazine’s Rules Column and a member of the US Sailing and ISAF Racing Rules Committee will present an evening class on the Racing Rules of Sailing. His presentation will include: 1) Rules and Tactics at the start, 2) Rules and Tactics on a beat, 3) Overlaps at [...] |
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An article from Bill Gladstone of North U on the US Sailing