Balanced rubber? Oh boy!


Cheers MC

DSK wrote:


The Etchells has a nice balanced rudder and flat aft sections, I'd think it
wouldn't be too sensitive to oversteering.

Yes I surfed my 6 ton full keel down some fairly large steep waves...
breaking about 15 feet up and 10 feet behind the transom. The last thing I
thought about was wanting to slow the boat down. :-)

When you put it in light of smaller vessels I can see the point. On my boat
though.... you want a steady helm. I generally find the groove and I can
lock it there to fine tune the set. Even on a broad reach where you are
cresting the wave top and she starts that little hesitation before screaming
down the wave... everyone tries to correct for what they misinterpret as a
yaw. I found that if you hold firm she finds her place without losing speed
or bearing. Each vessel is different and a full keeler is a majestic
powerhouse in a full sea and good breeze.

CM




"Bart Senior" bartsenior wrote in message
...
|
| To have a proper discussion we'd have to split this into at least
| three parts. One man dinks, light weight medium sized boats
| an larger heavy displacment boats.
|
| Rudder movement is a very effective tool for slowing down. I
| use dramatic motions with the rudder to kill speed when docking
| under sail. The is no question that it slows you down.
|
| I tend to agree with you on heavier boats. Have you ever had
| your boat surfing in big waves?
|
| I've surfed a 38 ton schooner and the drag caused by the
| dramatic helm movement was more than made up for in the
| added accelleration coming down a monster wave in the
| Pacific.
|
| On lighter boats in waves, working the helm to a certain degree
| --not constantly, is not only a help but a necessity.
|
| Depending on conditions, it is important to position yourself
| correctly on the wave, to surf and get that extra accelleration.
| It is worth the effort. Once in position on the wave, of
| course you want to minimize drag, and keep the helm centered,
| to sustain the surf and keep it there as long as possible.
|
| On dinghies, with onlly one person aboard. Body weight can
| be effectively substituted for tiller movement--I think that was
| the point Doug made. The fastest sailor use the minimum helm
| movement and steer with body weight.
|
| I think it would take an awesome crew on medium sized boats
| to use body weight effectively.
|
| Bart
|
|
| On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 21:44:58 -0400, "Capt. Mooron"
| wrote:
|
| Can't say as I agree with you there Bart. Overworking the rudder....
| especially on a barn door size like mine is a sure way to slow down in a
| hurry. The rudder will want to turn the boat to least resistance.... not
to
| the direction you want to go. I stand firm on not allowing to much
| correction to take place by my helmsman.
|
| CM
|
| "Bart Senior" bartsenior wrote in
message
| .. .
| | Sometimes in waves, it is the rudder that wants to move back
| | and forth, in which case, holding it straight will slow you down.
| |
| | Bart
| |
| | On Tue, 28 Oct 2003 15:33:58 -0500, DSK wrote:
| |
| |
| | Undersized rudder helmsmanship: yanking the boat through a tack or
| digging
| | the bow in trying to surf. I've observed both in folks who have done
lots
| of
| | racing on Lasers and in two cases, on an Olson 30. They seemed totally
| | unconscious of the fact that they could cut firewood with their helm.
| |
| | Actually, I had a hard time correcting some of my own bad habits, and
| when
| | shown a video of myself sailing the Lightning, commented "Who's that
jerk
| | sawing the tiller back and forth like a maniac?" No doubt I could
still
| use
| | some work....
| |
| | Fresh Breezes- Doug King
| |
|
|

No head on this boat. Only a bucket.

On Fri, 31 Oct 2003 12:43:58 +1300, The_navigator©
wrote:

So getting the boats head wiped off increases speed?

Cheers MC

Bart Senior wrote:

Sometimes in waves, it is the rudder that wants to move back
and forth, in which case, holding it straight will slow you down.

Bart

On Tue, 28 Oct 2003 15:33:58 -0500, DSK wrote:


Undersized rudder helmsmanship: yanking the boat through a tack or digging
the bow in trying to surf. I've observed both in folks who have done lots of
racing on Lasers and in two cases, on an Olson 30. They seemed totally
unconscious of the fact that they could cut firewood with their helm.

Actually, I had a hard time correcting some of my own bad habits, and when
shown a video of myself sailing the Lightning, commented "Who's that jerk
sawing the tiller back and forth like a maniac?" No doubt I could still use
some work....

Fresh Breezes- Doug King