Ok...
I did not expect great things for my first regatta, but the drubbing I took going down wind was dreadful. I need help.
Main Setup
Main trav set to hiking straps
Sheet not block to block, but solid
Cunningam off
Clew trav off
Comments
Main appeared to have better flow up top than down low
Jib Setup
Jib barberhauled all the way out
Jib luff tension eased (just to wrinkled)
Sail to keep outers flowing, inners flowing/fluttery
Comments
Jib apeared to have better flow down low. Top was soft, almost twisted off too much in my estimation but hard to correct when baber hauled (how would I?).
Crew Setup
Moved weight fore and aft and in and out according to wind conditions to keep the transoms out of the water(nice and quiet) or the bows out when it piped up a bit (nice and un submerged).
Winds were funny... maybe 10-15 at the high end. Seas were lumpy thanks to plenty of stink boat chop, but probably in the 1 to 3 foot range.
I drove down in the puffs and to burn off speed toward the mark when able.
Help!
Paul,
What kind of telltales do you have on the bow?
In respect to these bow tell tales, you wind angle?
Bruce
St. Croix
Mylar Streamers @ 90° apparent.
I'm not terribly familiar with the 6.0 (or the boomless sail) but on my 5.2 I leave the traveler car about 3 inches from the end of the traveler and sheet 'snuggly' - definitely not firm, definitley not sloppy.
I find that the jib shape is better with the barber hauler exposed about 3 to 4 inches. I start by trimming the jib, barberhaulers engaged, until the tell tales are flowing steadily with the apparent wind at 90 degrees. This usually puts the leading edge, at the forestay, about 90 degrees to the boat, pointing straight into the wind. Even so, I still find it necessary to sheet firmly on the jib downwind with the additional angle introduced by the barber haul. Now adjust your barber hauler (and sheeting everytime you make a change) so that the top and bottom jib tell tales break evenly with changes in wind angle - your jib is now at full power. Then check that the main sail's lower tell tales are flowing (usually no problem at this point) but adjust the sheet to control the twist at the top so that the top is flowing and breaking at the same time as the bottom - it will have to twist some because the jib helps the flow of air around the bottom of the main.
Check now that by steering the boat up and down that all the tell tales are breaking evenly - you'll feel it when you get it right because the boat will just feel 'alive'. I also find, and this may be very specific to the 5.2, that by zigging slightly downwind, I can get the boat to drive faster and lower but don't ever, ever, ever let those leeward tell tales break. Once you've found these settings, remember them (or mark them on the sheets) and you'll find a quick reference for getting the settings close next time you round the B mark.
Your first regatta and you only got clobbered going downwind! Nice going! I know nothing of the 6.0 but it sounds like your doing the right things to setup the boat. A few inches one way or the other however is far less important than sailing the headed tack in the dark water. I suggest you keep going to regattas and the blues will pass.