"Maxprop" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...

Hmm... well, I think there is a spot when there's zero heel,

I'm open to learning under what conditions this may be true. I can't
conceive of it, however. If the boat is hard on the wind and there IS
wind, a boat will heel, unless it's one of those redundant-hull thingys
that Oz sails.

Well, I thought you said that yourself... upwind, very light wind. I would
think that when there's a lull in light wind, the heel would go to zero, if
it wasn't nearly there already. I'm not sure how one would judge that, since
I don't have nor have I seen a tilt meter that accurate.

but it may not be sustainable upwind. Assuming no current and light wind,
it seems like you would want some heel.

You'll always have *some* heel, but minimizing it is advantageous for a
number of reasons. If this weren't true, why all the railmeat on maxi
boats? Dinghies are generally best sailed, in all but very light winds,
with a minimum of heel. Big boats are no different, unless they are
classics with long overhangs which increase effective waterline when
heeled.

I've always used the term heading up or pinching up. I guess you did say
something about falling off before attempting to heading up.

I've always interpreted "pinching" as simply sailing too close to the
wind. An example would be a boat with the ability to sail at, say, 30
degrees to the relative wind. Pinching would be to sail it along at 27
degrees, and footing would be at 35 degrees, plus or minus. Feathering
is, according to Snipe guru Ted Wells, alternating between footing and
pinching, but maintaining speed by spending only that amount of time
pinching that won't denigrate boat speed significantly. It's an active
process, with the skipper moving the helm quite a bit.

Ok... so feathering is zigzagging.

There are some experienced skippers who prefer to find that sweet spot
when hard on the wind, holding the helm very still. I can generally
outpoint them, but they do seem to win their share of races. It's just
another school of thought.

Yup... straight line sailing is faster.. turn = slowing.

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...


Well, I thought you said that yourself... upwind, very light wind. I would
think that when there's a lull in light wind, the heel would go to zero,
if it wasn't nearly there already. I'm not sure how one would judge that,
since I don't have nor have I seen a tilt meter that accurate.

I'm not talking about momentary zero heel, rather zero heel when moving
along hard on the wind. Only rail ballast can effect zero heel, or even
windward heel, in such cases. When racing dinghies in drifter conditons,
most do slightly better if artifically heeled to minimize wetted surface
area. So in those conditions when you might expect zero heel, some heel is
preferable.

Ok... so feathering is zigzagging.

Done properly its a very smooth procedure, and really doesn't result in a
zigzag CMG, rather a slight serpentine. If you're zigzagging, you're
oversteering or moving the helm too abruptly.

Yup... straight line sailing is faster.. turn = slowing.

I'd agree that it's faster, but one can sail higher on the wind by
feathering. It's helpful in making a mark that you might be slightly below
and want to avoid having to tack at the last minute. To continue your
argument, one can always go faster by footing than by sailing as high as
possible. I should have made the comment that while some of those who don't
touch the helm do win, so do those who steer constantly, feathering into the
wind. The ability and experience of the skipper has more to do with winning
than any given technique on one point of sail. But you know that.

Max

"Maxprop" wrote in message
.net...

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...


Well, I thought you said that yourself... upwind, very light wind. I
would think that when there's a lull in light wind, the heel would go to
zero, if it wasn't nearly there already. I'm not sure how one would judge
that, since I don't have nor have I seen a tilt meter that accurate.

I'm not talking about momentary zero heel, rather zero heel when moving
along hard on the wind. Only rail ballast can effect zero heel, or even
windward heel, in such cases. When racing dinghies in drifter conditons,
most do slightly better if artifically heeled to minimize wetted surface
area. So in those conditions when you might expect zero heel, some heel
is preferable.

I know you're not... I've never heard of anyone getting zero heel when hard
into the wind. On the lake where I also teach, I have students sit on the
low side to get a feel for the difference in light wind.

Ok... so feathering is zigzagging.

Done properly its a very smooth procedure, and really doesn't result in a
zigzag CMG, rather a slight serpentine. If you're zigzagging, you're
oversteering or moving the helm too abruptly.

Well, call it whatever you like, it's not a straight course.

Yup... straight line sailing is faster.. turn = slowing.

I'd agree that it's faster, but one can sail higher on the wind by
feathering. It's helpful in making a mark that you might be slightly
below and want to avoid having to tack at the last minute. To continue
your argument, one can always go faster by footing than by sailing as high
as possible. I should have made the comment that while some of those who
don't touch the helm do win, so do those who steer constantly, feathering
into the wind. The ability and experience of the skipper has more to do
with winning than any given technique on one point of sail. But you know
that.

Sure, I get what you're saying. If one were sailing on a beam reach, for
example, a straight course would be faster than constantly turning. For up
wind, it's a different story.


--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Capt. JG" wrote in message

Sure, I get what you're saying. If one were sailing on a beam reach, for
example, a straight course would be faster than constantly turning. For up
wind, it's a different story.

Correct--that is what I'm saying. And while some may disagree, and even
obtain good results from sailing an unaltered, straight-line windward
course, what I've described has worked well for me. I've obtained marks
that I'd have missed, requiring another tack, had I just sailed straight.
It's allowed me to cover an opponent better in many cases. And I've been
able to sail consistently higher since I was taught to do so. Following
close races, I've had those who've trailed me ask the following question:
"How is it that you seem to be aiming below my course most of the time, but
end up ahead and to windward of me by the end of the windward leg?????"

The art of pointing, old chap.

Max