All in the timing.

[Jackdaw]

we were out for our first team practice of the season this evening and did four runs with our new reaching kite, and one run with our blue running kite. Posted this pic on Facebook.

5 minutes later, a friend commented with a post with this from right outside a restaurant in Wayzata. Taken at pretty much the same time. Cool!

 

[BobbyFunn]

first team practice of the season

Still wearing coats!

Im like 2 weeks away from end of season1.

Team looks relaxed.

 

[jssailem]

Nice

 

[All U Get]

Nice pic, we could do that with five on board. With just the two of us it usually starts with the discussion, then I think maybe I can explain it again. After an hour or so I give up and sit on my side of the boat. We're getting closer though.

 

[agprice22]

Synchronicity.
Or Chronosynclastic Infundibulum!

 

[Will Gilmore]

BlueJ has style. Thanks for the pictures.

- Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Jackdaw]

Still wearing coats!

Im like 2 weeks away from end of season1.

Team looks relaxed.

Coats indeed! While the air temp in town was in the mid 60s, different story on the lake. A week ago the bay was covered with a sheet of ice. While gone now, the water (and air above it) is COLD.

 

[JRT]

Cool pics, will be 80s this weekend but wind looks like 1-5 knts. I think I'll try out our drifter for the first time .

What makes a kite a reaching one design wise I think I know a running one is but comparison between would be good education.

 

[Jackdaw]

What makes a kite a reaching one design wise I think I know a running one is but comparison between would be good education.

As you probably get, a reaching spinnaker is used for reaching, when the apparent wind angle is tight and often way in front of the beam. North sails likes to describe it with this chart.

We don’t sail with 6 kites just 3, so our primary downwind sails are really S2 and S3 with wider ranges.

Design wise, a reaching sail will be much straighter in the luffs on the way the head, and the ‘shoulders’ will be flatter and less full. These features allow the kite to meet the forward wind without collapsing. Reacher on the right.

Both our sails are tri-radial. The reacher is heavier cloth at 1.5oz, The runner is .75. We also have a .6 runner, which is a true S1 for light airs. Because of the heavy material, the reacher also doubles as an S4 in heavy airs, where its flatter design helps keep the sailplan more stable.

Here’s a pic, you can see the straighter entry.

 

[JRT]

Thanks for the education, I really like learning these little details! Since it is black did you consider a big skull and cross bones logo

 

[Jackdaw]

Thanks for the education, I really like learning these little details! Since it is black did you consider a big skull and cross bones logo

;^) na, we kinda like the basic black look. Plus logos cost money that could go to better sails, and if the sail gets damaged the repair can be super costly.

Here's a tight reach pic that shows more of the sail, but none of the leading luff. We were doing 5 knots reaching in 7 true, and Byron (our new part-time trimmer) was learning that even with the clicker that is not a hand load!

 

[Apex]

more pics of the mainsheet JD....is that a course and fine tune??? I see what looks like 2 feeds from the cam cleat? The purchase caught my eye....poor mainsheet trimmer has a mile to pull in at the leeward mark.

edit: nice new kite btw

 

[dziedzicmj]

The purchase caught my eye....poor mainsheet trimmer has a mile to pull in at the leeward mark.

This is a 3:1/6:1 (if I see it correctly). Hence double feed from the can cleat(s). 6:1 for fine tuning; 3:1 for major manoeuvres.

 

[Meriachee]

poor mainsheet trimmer has a mile to pull in at the leeward mark

Exactly the opposite. One sheet for fine trim, Two sheets for big change.

 

[Jackdaw]

This is a 3:1/6:1 (if I see it correctly). Hence double feed from the can cleat(s). 6:1 for fine tuning; 3:1 for major manoeuvres.

That's it, its a Harken 2-speed main-sheet system. Not cheap at all but totally worth it. In particular when your fiance is trimming main when racing!
http://www.harken.com/productcategory.aspx?taxid=432

Its way easier to manage than a pure fine/gross system (you never run out of room for fine), with almost the same benefit as described above. There IS a ton of sheet however, but pulling both it comes in pronto. 70 feet of Maffioli Swiftcord. At 6:1 that little 6 inch long strop of dyneema at the top block saves 3 feet of swiftcord!