Moderator: GreenLake
GreenLake wrote:Thanks for the explanation. Thistle must be a bit more responsive than a DS from your description and I certainly don't aspire to race at that level.
GreenLake wrote:On a recent afternoon I was out by myself and had to go upwind across a windier section on our lake, where it was blowing a little harder than I normally like for cruising solo. As I was not racing, I just put on the vang, let the main out to where it just didn't flog, and sailed effectively with the jib (just enough contribution from the main to keep the helm neutral). Didn't even have to hike out. Before I had the vang, I might have put a reef in the sail, but that's not as quick to reverse when you sail into a wind shadow.
GreenLake wrote:I'll have to make sure I'm not overusing the vang when not needed. Boat didn't come with one and it took me a while to get around installing one, so everything's far from second nature yet.
GreenLake wrote:Well, that's a lot to digest here.
I have a 12:1 vang and still-new sails.
The vang can be adjusted under way, but isn't set up to be "played".
I do adjust outhaul for major changes in wind conditions. (If I don't forget).
I have a Cunningham, which I tend to set once. (Take out wrinkles after I get out on the water).
While I "race" the boat, the course is a fixed triangle, so it's anything but windward/leeward. Combined with local conditions, you can get all points of sail, sometimes in interesting combinations (like the day all three legs were upwind). In principle, that means that I should work on getting the best boat speeds in all points of sail. For the vang, it means that I may need to understand if its use changes (and if so how) between close and broad reaches. . .
(If I haven't shared that in an earlier post, I have pictures of my setup in my personal album in the gallery).
Season is starting again, so I will have many chances to practice.
GreenLake wrote:Some part of the season I have expert crew, someone who can call puffs and help evaluate conditions, other times, I have novice crew and then I'm focused simply getting around the course. This particular event has boats of all sizes, and quite a few of them, so sometimes, all you can do is manage traffic.
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