 Downwind Tips | On some occasions spinnakers can't be used in some club races. So downwind needs to be head sail and main. My question is how best to trim especially in light to medium airs and specifically with the wind coming astern at around an angle say 4-5 on the clock starboard or 7-8 port side? I've struggled with this so any tips would be really appreciated.
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| Re: Downwind Tips | Hi Mike.
When no spinnakers allowed you can still use your spinnaker pole to pole out headsail opposite your mainsail. refered to as "Goose wing" or "wing and wing" . this is the only way i know to keep the headsail working when square down hill or slight angles away from square.
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| Re: Downwind Tips | Well do I recall,years ago, ambling down two mile lake on the Myalls in one of the then Port Stephens RL28s when the kids were nippers. Saw the Hornet come around the bend behind at height and glide down to abeam the boat at mast height (and negligible noise) .. whereupon he went to reheat, sat it on its tail and went vertical.
The kids just about jumped out of their skins.
Great fun and a sound recommendation for sailing downwind goosewinged.
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| Re: Downwind Tips | Apologies, good sir.
Myall Lakes is a coastal lake system north of Newcastle (NSW) -
(https://www.google.com.au/search?q=myall+lakes&hl=en&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=GyL9UK25BMfUmAXsmoGgBw&ved=0CEcQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=683)
- Two Mile is part of the lake system.
There used to be a (now defunct) yacht hire facility (Sail Cruise Porth Stephens, as I recall) at Soldiers Point on Port Stephens run by Eric Skuse from whom I had rented one of the RL28 fleet for several very relaxing weeks.
The RAAF operate a fighter base at Williamtown - immediately south of the Myalls.
In this case we were a target of opportunity for an F/A 18 Hornet
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_F/A-18_Hornet_in_Australian_service)
on his way back from a training exercise in the training area which sits over the Myalls. He approached the boat from behind at low power (low noise) in a gliding descent, went past at about 15ft off the water (way lower than he ought to have been but that's the life of instructor pilots) while increasing to full power (VERY loud noise) - reheat is where the aircraft vents fuel into the exhaust and burns it for additional thrust - then went into a vertical climb .. just for the glorious fun of being in command of a gloriously fun toy.
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| Re: Downwind Tips | mike,ease the tension on your halyard's and main outhaul also the cunningham this will create 'fullness' in your sails and add speed then trim your sail angle to suit. remember - if in doubt, ease out.
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