You could always use them to fit two booms for extra confidence when doing those big , off the coast , whale watchers![]()
Or use the extra hole to tie a nice pretty ribbon to![]()
We had a discussion about holes ![]()
I don't have any holes now and i'm missing them dearly.
Top hole for when it's short, tight or wind is light.
Middle hole for everyday use.
Bottom hole is where it's at- chuck in some negative, get lots of twist and take your chances off the wind.
For once Gestie we agree (I think). If you were talking to me when I had the aero's I couldn't use the bottom hole cause I wasn't that stunted and the boom was on too much of an angle. Jo you're sail is perfect for where you're at, north just don't have lots of holes even in race sails.
The top hole will tighten the leach of the sale more and is ment to provide more power. I find this to be true but only really useful in sub-planing conditions. The lower hole always gets me planning earlier, the higher just makes the sail feel top heavy and a heap more work in planing conditions.
Maybe you could stick your own rope in the top hole and get your mate to stick his in the bottom hole?
I see that the NP tuning guide says top hole =tight leech/bottom hole =loose leech but can someone please explain the theory as this runs counter to my understanding of force vectors and sailboat tuning. My belief is lower hole angles boom down and puts more tension on leech ie bottom hole=tight leach and vice versa. On my Noelex 30 which has a self tacking jib with upper and lower sheeting eyes the upper hole is equivalent to the lower hole on a windsurfer sail and tightens the leech. Am interested in theories or explanation.
I hear Leech's hole is loose... I mean top hole has tight Leech... wait... or was it top hole gets Leech loose?
WHICH HOLE!?
I cant get all techy on ya but i know this.
On all my tushy X-15's 7.7m, 6.4m and 5.2m. i always start out on the top hole( i always have full down haul so sail feels light in the hands).
After the first few runs if i feel a bit too over powered i go to the lower hole.This always changes the feeling of the sail and it gives you more control and its easier to sail.
i am guessing it because the sail twists off from lower down letting the sail to exhaust all the unusable power that before was effecting my stance and forcing me to sail defencivley and slower.
I may be wrong but, this is what i have found works for me
It's called back-up plan.
When one grommet finally fails.....
you immediately have another to rig outhaul.
Never not sail.
the more i sail, the more i say,
stick it in your bottom hole.
no it seriously feels better when you're planing(unless you're a fat <vnt )![]()
Monster,
In my experience it is generally more difficult to thread your rope through the lower hole. However when rigging a sail which has been well used you will find the extra perserverence worth the effort for a more enjoyable ride. With modern sails there is often no need to use the lower hole as the upper hole has seen little use and is still in quite a servicable condition. At all times feedback from the sail will tell you if the conditions are right for using either hole. In rare cases the sail will rig directly on the lower hole on the first session but more commonly you will need to use the upper hole until the sail feels comfortable.
Hope that clears things up.
When experimenting with each hole be sure to clean your equipment before switching between holes. This should eleminate future equipment faliures which could render both holes or rope un-usable .
If your rope is not supplied with a protective coating then the lower hole should be used to prevent unwanted accidents.
When using the lower hole,because of the radical boom angle,a lubricant should be applied to prevent chaffing to the rope and excess wear on the eyelette when vigorous pumping is required to get on the plane.