Curtis, These are some basic racing questions. You will probably learn more, faster, if you crew on someone else's boat. Alternatively some of the listers might have some suggestions for a "learn to race" book. Most learn to sail "sailing for dummies" type books have a section for racing too.
My point about it being a delicate balance is that often times in an effort to get to the mark, it is very easy for the helmsman to turn up and point a little too close to the wind. Falling off 5° and accelerating 1-2kts is usually better. Fall off 10° or 20° and you're adding too much distance to the mark. Of course this is all in referance to the upwind leg of a race. If you can point straight at the mark and keep the sails trimmed for a broad reach then obviously do so (Except for the effects of set and drift). Too much rudder when approaching and rounding the mark will slow you down so stay a little wide (1-2 boat lengths depending) on approach. Make a nice smooth arc such that as you straighten out you are passing the mark. Being on the correct side of the course is very helpful. Picture a port rounding(left turn). If while on approach you have an opportunity to move more to the right of the mark then you will be making the turn around the mark at a less acute angle. If on the other hand you find yourself moving more to the left of the mark then you will be making the rounding with a more acute angle. The sharper curve slows the boat more and being left can cause interferences with on coming boats. "Accelerating" away from the mark can be achieved by being a little bit off the wind, accelerating, and then coming up to the wind. Bear in mind that all of this discussion is predicated on the crew trimming the sails correctly and in close coordination with the helmsman. Tacking will slow you down. Avoid unnecessarily tacking. Make clean and coordinated tacks. Don't "throw" the wheel over. Again make smooth curves. Overshoot the tack just a little, accelerate, and come up to the new point of sail. Try to get clean upwind air. You may have to tack to get clean air. Making for a lay line far from the rounding is probably not going work well, there are too many variables to the mark. Until you get more expierience, stick with the pack. Your start will set the tone for the entire race. Determine which end of the line is favored. Try to cross the start on starboard so you have rights. Tacking across the line can work but the tack slows you down. Try to be windward of everyone else. Or you could just start the engine Josh On Jan 19, 2014 1:43 AM, "Curtis" <cpt.b...@gmail.com> wrote: > Yes Your right Jim That HC of 171 will go right the window. > > *"The helmsman should be absolutely carefull not to pinch or come up into > the wind. It is a very delicate balance between sailing too close to the > wind and too far from the mark."* > > > So would it be better for me just starting out racing to stay as close > to abeam as possible even if I have to tack more often instead of trying > to sail to close? Do my long leg first, Stay in the middle, Tack early? > > > > > > > On Sun, Jan 19, 2014 at 12:37 AM, Jim Watts <paradigmat...@gmail.com>wrote: > >> The quick way is to start your engine and kick it up to 3000 RPM, but you >> may take a hit in PHRF for that. >> >> Jim Watts >> Paradigm Shift >> C&C 35 Mk III >> Victoria, BC >> >> >> On 18 January 2014 21:28, Josh Muckley <muckl...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> There is no way to trim for "take off". There is properly trimmed and >>> improperly trimmed. Period. There are things you can do to move closer >>> and closer to properly trimmed, but simply trim according to the wind. >>> More important, enter the rounding wide and exit close to the mark. >>> >>> So the question you are actually asking is, "How do I trim sails >>> properly." To which the answer is quite involved. At any point while >>> sailing, the general guide for trimming sails is "when in doubt let it >>> out". The other guide is to trim so as to imagine cutting the wind evenly >>> across both sides of the sail. I use the windex and trim till the luff >>> edge is parallel to the windex. This gives a ruff trim until you have time >>> to get back and tweek them properly. >>> >>> Once you get around the mark and the sails are coursely adjusted you and >>> the crew can work on fine tuning. Use the tell-tails and boat speed to >>> tweak in the sails. >>> >>> The helmsman should be absolutely carefull not to pinch or come up into >>> the wind. It is a very delicate balance between sailing too close to the >>> wind and too far from the mark. >>> >>> Aside from proper sail trim there are many other factors and tactics for >>> navigating the boat during a race. Enough to file many volumes. >>> >>> Josh >>> On Jan 18, 2014 11:25 PM, "Curtis" <cpt.b...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>>> O.K what is the sail set for Acceleration Versus Speed? After I round >>>> the windward mark no spinnaker and I want to accelerate back to hull speed? >>>> How do I set the sails to get the max takeoff speed? >>>> >>>> Thanks. >>>> >>>> C&C30 MK1 >>>> Curtis. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> >>>> *At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much. - Robin >>>> Lee Graham* >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album >>>> http://www.cncphotoalbum.com >>>> CnC-List@cnc-list.com >>>> >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album >>> http://www.cncphotoalbum.com >>> CnC-List@cnc-list.com >>> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album >> http://www.cncphotoalbum.com >> CnC-List@cnc-list.com >> >> > > > -- > > *At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much. - Robin Lee > Graham* > > > _______________________________________________ > This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album > http://www.cncphotoalbum.com > CnC-List@cnc-list.com > >
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