Factors affecting Pointing

I had a 1974 Sailcraft of Canada Tornado that I sailed 6 years. I think the sails and battens are a big part but I think your rudders maybe be your problem. If they are just a little out they sometimes act like a anchor/brake. I made a wooden rudder once to use until I could get a replacement from Montreal. The boat never sailed correctly with that rudder even though it measured out very close. But when the new one came in it was back to normal. I went to montreal to pick up two baots in 1974 and watched them make them, weigh them, etc. They had two large boards molds and a bunch of C clamps to make the rudders. They would coat the boards with gel coat and pour in a cup of foam and then it was a race for the two of them to get the clamps on before the foam expanded too far.

What shape are your centerboards in? If that pvc pipe axle is worn it can allow a lot of flucuation...

Thom

Thom,

You must have met my Dad when dealing with the Montreal boat plant...he (Geoff Dobbs) used to run it with Geoff Perry. As to the rudders, I'm glad of your comments...it confirms my suspicions...didn't know how much they can affect performance. I can tell visually that the rudders are not symetrical. Interestingly, my Dad has a set of molds for rudders & boards left over from the now defunct SailCraft of Canada.

The board pivots are reasonable...I had to make them up new during the boat's restoration. The boards do slop around side to side some since they are wooden and thinner than the board slots molded into the deck/hull. Wooden boards & rudders weren't produced by SailCraft much past the early '70's, and the glass boards were wider at the deck/hull contact points.

Cheers!

Mike.

Mike Dobbs

Tornado KC 283

Double Mint

-Hi Mike

-Pointing problems,-can be a list of many combinations of factors ,-including wind shifts and veers . -

-Often a small windshift occurs during racing ,-a lift will favor the inside cat ,-lifting it first ,-gradually it seems as though the other cat inside is sailing high and faster , but if you have an accurate compass it is a lift effect ,--a short tack taking initial loss but placing yourself inside the fleet is the solution .

-One other factor mentioned was sailing by the jib telltales ,--

Would recommend sailing by the upper main telltales only ,-

keeping on the fine edge of the inside just beginning to luff ,-

This more precised line once learned will allow a consistant and higher angle with less

wondering

inside the cats groove ,--

best feeling sailing angle TO WEATHER

-

-i DO NOT WIN EVERY RACE ENTERED EITHER ,-so take the advice accordingly ,-

hope it helps .

Carl

I am clearly no expert - but I've been batteling the same scenario on my Nacra 5.2. I'm fairly new to sailing for speed and have been fighting this lack of pointing ability without much in my toolchest of experience. I get walluped on pointing by H16s in any wind (which is frustrating since I should be the 'walluper' in this scenario). I've tried lighter weight, different weight placments, all sorts of rigging/tuning modifications, and they do nothing but slow me down. I frequently sail against a very similar 5.2 and he also can outpoint me significantly - his sails are old too but in considerably better condition. I've finally come to the final (and most expensive) conclusion that the original 1982 sails have got to go.

[color]Jake

[color]Nacra 5.2 (2112)

Which one had the sled dogs? As I recall Chris Hart was my main contact along with a Geoff. A tall man with brown hair that drove a stationwagon. On a different tack if your boards are narrower have you glewed a gasket on the bottom. We used a rubber piece from a intertube. It fit into an inset in the hull centerbord housing. As I recall the fiberglass boards widened in a section that helped close that hole. Two things I used to do going up wind was play the luff tension on the jib as well as the jib itself and I would over rotate the mast to help flatten the main. Also mast rake on my boat went best with about 1.5

forward rake. How did I determine/measure that???well I got the boat and trailer on a reasonably level spot...and took a general contractors level [4'] and got the whole mess as level as I could...then I eye'd the mast for the max curve and I taped a string to that spot. I raised the mast and tied a weight to the string and slowly let it settle. When it was about 1.5

forward I adjusted the turnbuckle on the forestay [not stock] and made the rig tight. It probably didn't make any difference in speed but I was willing to try anything.

Fair winds,

Thom

There is a 100 different things that could affect a boats pointing and of course it varies from boat to boat.

There are a couple of things I'd like to mention. They may have no impact but if you've sorted out your boards and are happy with them maybe the old main sails leach is just laying off too much. The cause can be stretch or too much bend in the mast, induced by the diamond tension or downhaul.

So first set the downhaul so the sail has some wrinkles in the luff and next let the outhaul out a little as this tends to tighten the leach.

As you ease the outhaul you will start to feel weather helm, so not too much. As the breeze increases you can tighten it up a bit to reduce the helm.

As I said it could be a hundred things but if it is the main sail causing the problem minor changes along these lines could bring about an improvement.

I've also found on the boats I've sailed weight as far forward as possible helps pointing in light air so if you can get it any further forward do so.

Hope this helps.

Phill

You should never point lower than a H16 on a N5.2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jake, buy new(er) sails today and start on the path to wallup-dom.

I know, I know....I was so frustrated I was spitting (well, that was really from all the salt water spray I was getting in my face 'cause at least the weather was good!). I couldn't believe they stuck me with the H16 fleet at first.... but after seing how bad off the boat really was - I was glad they did. I tried EVERYTHING to no avail.

BTW - the new sails are already on order.

[color]Jake

[color]Nacra 5.2 (2112)