1st SOLO sail H27

[Jimboyyy]

I completed my 1st solo sail in Dragon Fly #243, on Lake Lanier on Saturday. A race to the dam and back was held by Barefoot Sailing Club (16 miles). Getting out of and into the slip seemed to be the most difficult parts of the journey. I have finally learned to adjust for the severe prop walk by holding the starboard stern dock line while engaging the engine into reverse, once the prop bites hard, we (the boat and I) seem to shoot out of the slip. Coming back into the slip I managed to ding the bow cap, a closer inspection reveals I am not the 1st to do this.

Winds were forecast for 6-8 knots but were closer to 0-5 knots, I realized that I need to learn the wind patterns on the lake better because it is far easier to sail where there is wind than where there is not. I am striving to keep the tell tales flying but have not figured out the sail trim yet.

Does any one know of a diagram that I might use to attach new tell tales to both my main and jib? as far as locations...Thanks!

 

[Ken Prichard]

Main - on the leach at the end of each batten
Jib - three sets @ 25%, 50% and 75% measured from either the tack or the head. In "Maximum Sail Power" Brian Hancock says to attach them 5% - 8% back of the luff. Mine are about 10%.

 

[Jim Boernge]

With time, you will find that slow is really good in departing and arriving at a dock, slip or mooring. I find that slow backing reduces prop walk somewhat. You should try seeing how much momentum your boat has when you take the boat out of forward gear. No harm in having to give it some fuel to inch the boat in when you have not made it all the way into the slip. Better than 'making out' with the dock.
Our slip has 1/2 finger piers and separate wood pilings at the outer end of slip. I leave a line on the outer piling, pick it up on the stbd side, wrap it one turn around the winch and hold that (bow) line and use reverse to turn the boat on the piling and back into my slip until I cah reach a line at the end of the finger pier. Note, you need to be going slow and not clip your shrouds on bows of adjacent boats using this procedure.