Bimini Top and Balanced Sails

[Kermit]

Don,

I experienced balanced sails yesterday for the first time ever. We were sailing with the bimini on and all of a sudden I realized the tiller was extremely light in my hand. I told my First Mate what was happening and then let go. Dang it was great! But just like a kid letting go of the handle bars for the fist time, I couldn't leave it alone for too long. We had a pretty good heel going on so I just couldn't trust what I knew was a good thing.

Since the bimini was up I had no view of the main and only a partial view of the jib so I have no idea what the tell-tales were doing at the time. Could have been flapping wildly for all I know. But the sails were balanced to perfection.

Just had to share this. I wouldn't have had any idea about balanced sails if it weren't for this forum. Thanks!

Kermit
Wateree Lake, SC

 

[FourPoints]

Bet you were going faster than normal too... now you know how it should feel all the time you can try to work towards that every time you are out.

 

[Don Guillette]

Kermit: GREAT!! Thank you for sharing the experience. So frequently we never know the results that folks get from the forum. We don't know if the suggestions we've given work for the lister.

I mentioned this last week but it might have gotten lost in the thread. As you all have seen, guys like RichH, Stu J, Joe from San Diego, Alan and Scott, just to mention a few, put a lot of time and effort into answering questions on the sail trim forum. They really don't have to but they give back something to the sport that has provided them with enjoyment - that's the reason I do it. It's a labor of love for them as obviously they already know what they are doing from a sail trim standpoint and if they wanted to they could keep the knowledge to themselves but they don't.

There is a big difference getting sail trim info from these guys as oppossed to your dock neighbor. I've been through the dock neighbor routine when I was confused as all get out about sail trim. I'd ask what was the difference between twist and angle of attack or what settings would I use for my main and jib closehauled in 10 knots of wind. The answer I got confused the blazes out of me and I didn't know what they were talking about - later I discovered they really didn't know either and were combining a bunch of stuff. There is no other place I know of on the whole web like the sail trim forum where you can get the straight skinny on sail trim and that is a BIG THANKS to PHIL & BLY at SAILBOATOWNERS.COM. You can thank them by going to their ship store FIRST for marine products. Many of the other sites are like talking to your dock neighbor!! Generally, the info is mixed in with 95% maintainence questions.

Anyway, if a lister asks a question and gets answers and the solution works for them, if they have time maybe they could post the results or what they had to do to tweek the situation to get the results they desired.

Kermit, one last point. Sometimes you don't have to SEE the sails to know you're in the grove - you can just FEEL it. I could feel it through my feet standing behind the wheel and I didn't have to look up. After "feeling it" I always had to look up because I couldn't help myself!!

 

[Kermit]

I really think the bimini is helping me relax as a sailor. As I stated in a previous thread, I tend to stress over getting everything exactly perfect. That tends to take the fun out of our pastime. The first time I sailed with the bimini, I occasionally would find a way to see the sails. The tell-tales were perfect every time. Oh, and jibing goes smoother for me now, too. I just watch the sheet as it moves across the traveler, tighten the trim to control the jibe, then let it out as it changes sides. No big whammy.

My next goal is to use the asymmetrical spinnaker with the bimini up. I'm not holding my breath on that one, though.

Kermit

 

[gpd955]

I really think the bimini is helping me relax as a sailor.

I tend to agree with you there. Been getting a chance to singlehand a lot lately and find that I've been using the feel of the boat and sails more than looking at the shape and telltales. After I settle the boat to the heel and speed I like, I will check and usually find that I am close to or on the mark for decent trim. I like using my Spidey senses rather than just being technical.

 

[RichH]

I like using my Spidey senses rather than just being technical.

VERY TRUE statement.
Ive discussed at length with the 'lions' of the sailboat world of why they always seemed to be the fastest, the one who always 'won', always had complete control of their boats, etc. etc. etc. It appears that you continually move through all the stages of learning which includes trim, sail shaping, etc. etc. until you finally FEEL, by the seat of pants or otherwise, that the boat is 'perfect'. The great Buddy Melges explains it as the feeling he gets when he's dead-on in the groove - he can FEEL it, and he can SENSE it ... and he explains also that you get maximum heel when all things are in concert of perfection - he sails by the seat of his pants to arrive at maximum heel (when beating). You know by continual practice when the boat is cranky, or 'feeling dead' ... an 'acquired' skill.
So, as you move through the 'stages' of sailing performance, ultimately you will eventually arrive at a heightened 'feeling' or 'sense' that you are sailing on the hairy edge of perfection - you know it and you sense it. Enjoy your pursuit of that goal or arriving at the ultimate 'sense'.

 

[Alan]

Thank you RichH, you are bang on!! I drive by that 'sense' but I find it extremely difficult to try explain it to other sailors. I spent more than a few years learning to be a good sailor and then learning 'how' to drive. Once I got the driving mastered we started to win races. Now when I go sailing I can 'feel' when the boat is 'in the grove' and sailing at optimal trim. But it really does take time and practice to get there.

 

[RichH]

Alan
I think its quite like mastering a musical instrument - for years you go through the pain of the "mechanics" of the instrument (and without mastering the music thats supposed to come forth); but, one day all that practice in the attempt to 'master' happens and you no long are a 'musical mechanic' or musical technician but a true musician and what comes forth is not a mechanistic flow of notes but at that time you and your instrument become one single entity and finally after all the years of preparation ... finally play "music". You dont have to look continually at the sheet music/tell-tales, the technique / trim, etc. and you and the boat become one single entity and you FEEL and ARE what is happening.
Thats how it was explained to me by some of the 'lions' of the sailing world.
;-)

 

[Kermit]

Thanks to everyone for your replies. It's good to know that feeling the boat can be just as good if not better than checking it out technically. I'm finally learning to relax and enjoy sailing without worrying about being so dang perfect. Maybe I'll find perfection in not trying to find perfection.

Kermit

 

[sinnettc]

I *felt* the boat lift today, as I was easing the traveler in a gust, and we ever so briefly hit 7 knots. That was with a reefed main and the top of the blade twisted off a bit due to the gusts. Wish I could get it to do that every time we get a good gust but unfortunately the bow usually digs in.

 

[Alan]

sinnettc, it's a great feeling to know that the boat just sprang to life under you and you hold the power. You can almost feel the boat smile as she slices through the water as you hear that bow wave develop.
Speaking of waves, I remember driving a race and sitting to windward on the quarter wave of a 50 footer for miles. He couldn't or wouldn't shake me and we road that wave for miles hitching a ride at speeds we should not have been able to make any other way, it was awesome!