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Racing - Using light lines on the number 1 headsail in 2 to 3 knots

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Created by Bundeenabuoy > 9 months ago, 24 Aug 2018
Bundeenabuoy
NSW, 1239 posts
24 Aug 2018 12:45PM
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While racing, has anyone used light lines in the above situation?

Trek
NSW, 1195 posts
24 Aug 2018 3:23PM
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Yes many times, including on Spinnaker so it will fill not flop. Something like string or similar. As an extra aid cigarette smoke. I found many times in drifters the fleet would give up thinking no wind when actually there was. Set the sails per the breeze the ciggy smoke shows and drift past the fleet at 0.001 kts. When the wing does come back you can be a boat length in front which is major.

Bundeenabuoy
NSW, 1239 posts
24 Aug 2018 5:03PM
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Trek said..
Yes many times, including on Spinnaker so it will fill not flop. Something like string or similar. As an extra aid cigarette smoke. I found many times in drifters the fleet would give up thinking no wind when actually there was. Set the sails per the breeze the ciggy smoke shows and drift past the fleet at 0.001 kts. When the wing does come back you can be a boat length in front which is major.


Thanks Trek,
I have a new lightweight spinnaker and never got to use the lightweight strings in the last CYCA Winter Series but this Sunday I think I may get to use them.
I started thinking about it after last Sundays race in the 25-30 knots. I probably should have put heavier lines on last week. It would have been a bit easier to use and maybe more efficient.
I am sure the ciggy smoke works well too.

FreeRadical
WA, 855 posts
24 Aug 2018 5:17PM
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At $50 a pack or whatever and lung cancer down the road, I think I'd forgo a boat length.

shaggybaxter
QLD, 2662 posts
25 Aug 2018 10:02AM
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G'day Bundeenaboy,
Absolutely yes. My whole setup is heavy air, and even on my headsail (5 oz?) it makes a big difference. I should do it more often too, I can keep shape in the headsail with light air sheets (6mm), put my normal sheets on (10mm) and the headsail just sits there like a blanket. Really evident with the kite as the sheets are longer.

Trek
NSW, 1195 posts
25 Aug 2018 4:00PM
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FreeRadical said..
At $50 a pack or whatever and lung cancer down the road, I think I'd forgo a boat length.


Who said anything about smoking them? Good grief, wheres that island called conclusions, lets jump to it!!!

Hort
43 posts
27 Aug 2018 11:00AM
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Bundeenabuoy, Yep light sheets work great & here's a few other light air tricks.
Get the crew to hold the clew of the headsail where it would be if there was breeze. This stops the leach collapsing in & closing the slot between the main.
stand up & rest the end of the boom on your shoulder or use a topping lift to do the same thing as above with the main.
Quite often a small spinnaker will set in light air & be more efficient than a large collapsing one.
Alternativly dropping the main & running with a kite only can be faster in really light air.
& don't stop concentrating, heaps of sailors give up in the light stuff making opportunities for you.

Cav30
NSW, 121 posts
27 Aug 2018 1:57PM
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Race was abandoned.

:-)

I notice Sea Ya is in the same division as us. I crew on CC2.

rumblefish
TAS, 824 posts
27 Aug 2018 2:51PM
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My dad had a special holder on his Hartley 16 on the cabin top just for a ciggie to hold it upright!!!

blindtadpole
NSW, 7 posts
27 Aug 2018 9:41PM
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Light sheets definitely. 10-12kn and up go regular. Not hard to change over...

boty
QLD, 685 posts
28 Aug 2018 8:06AM
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i pull the core out of a bit of 6mm halves the weight but still able to hold it up to 10 knots

Bundeenabuoy
NSW, 1239 posts
31 Aug 2018 7:01AM
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Cav30 said..
Race was abandoned.

:-)

I notice Sea Ya is in the same division as us. I crew on CC2.


Yes it should be a great finishing race to the Spring Series.
With one race abandoned, do we still get a drop?
By my calculations CC, Kia and Sea Ya can all win.
Do you agree?

Bundeenabuoy
NSW, 1239 posts
31 Aug 2018 7:05AM
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Bundeenabuoy said..
While racing, has anyone used light lines in the above situation?


For me, this post has really opened my eyes to the wealth of knowledge on this forum.



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"Racing - Using light lines on the number 1 headsail in 2 to 3 knots" started by Bundeenabuoy