Here's a trim challenge

[SoupyT]

Don,Here’s my “other” boat. 14’ of rotomoulded fun.The main (only) sail is rather high-tech, and includes a batten. Sail trim is rather challenging though.The principal trim control is visible in the picture, which is the mainsheet leading aft.It has a Cunningham, but it’s not adjustable. (It’s a bungee).The vang and outhaul are not visible, as they were holding the camera (my arm).The rig is almost useless uphill (but makes a difference if you can generate your own apparent wind) and a handful downhill (you really need to pole out the sail with an oar) but it’s downright thrilling on a reach.I “sailed” it last weekend, for the first time after many weeks of digesting Don’s words of wisdom on trim, and it generated an epiphany of sorts. I’ve been diligently practicing Don’s wisdom on my 37 footer, but sometimes things don’t quite seem to work as well in practice. For me, sailing another boat really helps isolate trim related effects, and things that are quirks of a given rig.Richard.s/v Soupy Twist II (And Soupy Canoe).

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

Hybrid

Sailboard meets kyak, wow!

 

[Don Guillette]

SoupyT: I was thinking of some mods we could make to your 14' racer. The Garhauer straight track traveler (of course the biggest one they make), would be a nice addition along with their largest boom vang. My neighbor is selling a 50HP Merc and I could get you a good price on that but you'd have to buy the OB mount and he'll also throw in a backstay adjuster. How many 200 lb guys do you think we could squeeze on your speedster? Last week I took a couple of anchors to Minney's (a surplus marine shop in Newport Beach, Ca) and now I'm sorry I did because you could have used one of them, especially the one that had about 25' of chain. Would you be at all interested in a used dodger plus a radar mast? I was cleaning out my garage preparing for my move from So Ca and I found a great weather vane with a big rooster on it, which I think would look trick as a mast head fly!!If your interested in any of this stuff for you 14' please let me know.