The Cappys Master wrote:
On Fri, 01 Aug 2003 11:41:54 +1200, The_navigator©
wrote:


A modern wedge shaped monohull with a _____free______ rudder? Are you
really sure -have you tried it? Or are you saying that she does not
balance (hence the immediately?).


Hang on, now you're starting to place restrictions, specifying the
type of boat.
This is a general question and the general answer is yes, fin keelers
can be made to sail with a free rudder for some time until changes in
the forces upon her unbalance her. She will need a hand to get back on
track but will then balance again.

Then to my mind she's not balanced. Balanced is when she will sail for
lonmg periods and compensate for being knocked off -like when you sail
to wind with the helm locked off...

Cheers MC



Yes, by all means try to hang on but the winning boat did not generally
broach and that was because the crew anticipated. That is the key to
both helming and sail trim. Not reacting quickly is why it happens more
often. You can even see it in the videos of world champions. Every time
the crew did not immediately react.


They sometimes don't react to a full disaster because they are
expecting that they will ride it thru like last time. They will ease
or trim depending but sometime just not enough and by then, its a done
deal.


hile some human failing is
inevitable, I suggest all broaches would have been preventable.


Of course, just sail slower!

Doen't have to be slower. The boat may well be faster standing more
upright...



In many
cases the skipper/helm inhibits the trimmer from easing pressure early
enough (and in some boats the communication is appaling) because they
think to win they need every bit of boat speed -forgetting that if they
lose control they will lose far more time and she's be faster on her
feet with only a slight heel than laid right over at the edge of
control. As I see it, if all do their job properly there is no reason to
broach -it just doesn't happen that fast.


Hmmm, if every time I suspected that a situation was developing that
may end in tears, I called for sheets to be eased, I'd never win a
race.

Have you ever seen a boat broach with the sheet freed?


Yep.

Explain, cos I haven't.


Oh and by the time most people can get out "I'm losing it!"....its
well lost and you're just in it for the ride.


Sounds like reaction -not anticipating anough?

Cheers MC