>> ...if I turned the wheel that aggressively on my 35 I feel certain she would >> go up, now I have to try that to find out for sure and ruin a perfectly nice >> beat someday. <<
A few years back racing Calypso double-handed in a fully crewed C/R fleet we found the point at which the mainsail overcame the rudder. The wind was brisk enough for Calypso to be fully powered up, full mainsail and heavy #1 (150%). Short tacking the Bainbridge Island shore to stay out of adverse current, on Port we planned to duck a slightly smaller Stbd tacker. Calypso's co-owner, Michael was driving, I was trimming both sails. As we bore off I had a little difficulty in easing the main about the time a gust rolled through. Calypso heeled enough to stall the rudder. The mainsail took over control and the boat began to round up to windward. I clearly recall the wide eyes in the cockpit of the Stbd tacker as 24,000lbs of angry, foaming at the mouth C&C was pointed right at them. Fortunately I got the main eased and Michael pumped the rudder several time to re-establish flow and control in time to pass safely astern of the Stbd tacker. After that close call we throttled back a little and left more space for crossing. Dwight, I recommend practicing this type of windward round up to learn how your 35 MKII handles at the edge of control before a close crossing situation develops. Having your race crew part of the practice to get the feel of a rudder stall and quick rotation to windward. Having some practice will help them concentrate on a quick recovery when time is tight. It can be expensive if a crew freezes instead of easing a sheet. Martin Calypso 1970 C&C 43 Seattle From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of dwight veinot Sent: Friday, April 12, 2013 3:25 PM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List Race Video Blue was close hauled with lots of power, what looks like an uncoordinated crew and in close quarters. She was give way boat and it looks to me like she was barging the line hell bent to get across inside of what looks like the committee boat, and ahead and to windward of the fleet. If she went up hard she either had to tack away or risk ramming what I think is the committee boat. I can't tell if the leeward boat had room to fall off safely to avoid collision with blue without making a collision with the boat below her, looks like she was being taken up too. I heard now up now up now up now up so someone on Blue knew they were being taken up but I don't think the helmsman or the crew acted soon enough or fast enough. The helmsman's effort to steer up seemed ineffective, not much of a rudder on that boat if you ask me. The mainsail trimmer tensioned for more close hauled course and looks like the jib trimmer did the same...seems like the crew did not know how to sail that boat under those conditions in close quarters...they did not appear to know what to expect from the boat and the crew...if I turned the wheel that aggressively on my 35 I feel certain she would go up, now I have to try that to find out for sure and ruin a perfectly nice beat some day. Haven't raced in a while... what is in the rule about barging Dwight Veinot C&C 35 MKII, Alianna Head of St. Margaret's Bay, NS ________________________________
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