97 Club

[Stuberry]

What a weekend! Becky and I picked up Pasta Frenzy on Saturday morning (thanks Dave) and headed down to Netley where we were greeted by a sign saying:

   Wind F4-5
   Sunny 20degC
   Visibility Good
   Sea Slight

Does it get any better than that?

Davro took Becky out for a couple of acclimatisation laps to show her the ropes. Then Dave came back to the beach and after a quick rest, I swapped in. The upwind took a bit of getting used to. Re-learning to trim the main as well as steering is going to take some time on the water. But the downwind send really was one of the those special moments. Pasta absolutely sings!

Sunday dawned with a lighter breeze and we had a go at the afternoon race. We tried going offshore to find more breeze but got stung by the stronger tide. Two inland sailors with some learning to do! We had major problems getting the battens to pop accross in the race, usually meaning we spent 30seconds going backards on each tack. So with the boat handling and tactical errors we watched Numb sail off over the horizon. I think we finished 17th, so not totally terrible.

After racing we were determined to learn to roll tack the thing and get the battens through first time. Mission complete! But now we need to master the same on the gybes.

Becky has well and truely caught the bug! The next time we sail will be the Civil Service Dinghy Champs on 30th June - 1st July weekend. And we're on for the nationals. Looking forward to it!

97 Rulez OK!!!

[john_hamilton]

so...becky is?

[Torchy]

Nice one Stu...

For the main popping thing can I recommend screw type batten tensioners?...much, much better than bits of rope. I swapped the ones on the Red Eye onto the Fyfe main and they are magic. You want tension? Wack 'em on!...a few turns off and things pop no problem in lighter weather.

Just trying to source some more via Suggitt Sails.

...and remember - this is a spade:

[Phil Alderson]

I recomend in light winds pumping the Cunningham as you flick the main

[Torchy]

As does TK Phil...respect various folk's experience and all that but it's a simple solution and putting previous tension back is as simple as counting the turns.

Aren't we all just tolerating an over-hard leech in light weather because we don't have easy control of batten tension?...or does it no affect light weather performance?

[Stuberry]

The problem is solved by learning how to tack better.

[Torchy]

Fair comment...but what should the leech (especially at the top) do in light weather as opposed to moderate or heavier winds?

Hard tension on the battens tends to make Loco's look quite hooked at the top....prone to stall in light stuff?

Loco's is a square top.

Genuine questions...I'm not sure

[john_hamilton]

dump some kicker, more caps, more cunningham


above are three entirely seperate ways of changing the leech profile without fiddling around with the batten tension too much once you have got it set initially

[Torchy]

Thanks John

What I have found is that kicker has less effect on the square head than I'd like, I'm trying to avoid fitting adjustable caps...Cunningham...yes.

I'm hoping there are just 2 settings for the battens - light and 'heavy' and the rest is Cunningham/kicker...

Adjustable caps might well be the way to go for comfort tho'...just trying to keep it simple because I'm easily confused.

[Stuberry]

On Pasta the leach hooks really easily with too much mainsheet tension. So on sunday I was sailing with the main eased a bit in the lulls to keep the leach straight and keep the flow attached. Then pinning a bit more main in the gusts. In those conditions I was just taking the slack out the kicker. And the cunno was loose apart from in the tacks.

Battens don't really have much effect on leach tension because the are perpendicular to the leach.

Does Loco have a square head main?

[Torchy]

Yes, Loco's a square head...I think that makes it more of an issue than for some

[john_hamilton]

nigel, if you cant un-hook the main with the kicker completely loose (i.e. controlling leech with main sheet) then id be fairly surprised, remember that pretty much all mains hook when there is nowind in them at all, even laser sails do. wither way that problem can be got around by more caps, but that flattens the main, etc....

another solution is just set you battens to the perfect leech profile with no wind (see picture) and you should find that you will be able to keep the profile as the wind increases by using the controls instead of faffing with battens...



P.S. I am "friends" with sam on facebook so you should be able to see all the pictures of tuning the new boats mainsail through his account

[Torchy]

Ta mate,

Yes, I've done a similar thing and set up the leech with no wind in. It seems to be working well and I'm only assuming I will need extra tension in stronger winds...haven't had the chance to test it yet. The day you sailed Loco was the first day sailing since the new set up which is a little less tension than was previously in but it's easily adjustable.

Will look at your photos via Sam's a/c

Loco's sail viewed from the back (as per your photo) is flatter in the foot and fuller in the head than 'Phobia's...and now pops much easier (you had no problem, I was watching from the shore/rib) and should be controllable in most conditions...we'll see.

[Tim Noyce]

Right dudes, have all you 97'ers got your entries in for the nationals yet? Today is the day when the price goes up so please get your forms in asap!

I can almost guarantee that there will be excellent wind, sun and sandy beaches for anyone who makes the trip down to Babbacombe, and there you will find 4 of the finest days sailing in the history of the class. Please don't miss it, you owe it to yourselves!

[Hayley_Trim]

Hear hear