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[Don Guillette]

Mates: We've beaten docking to death. What I like about this forum and others I belong to on other networks is that you get the complete picture of the subject being discussed. You then have to do what I have done over the years and that is to digest all the info and pick out what works for you. It is probably a combination of everyones ideas. Then try what you have put together on the water - that's the final test. If it works for you then tuck it away. If it doesn't, then it is back to this forum with questions.Since I'm tired of talking about docking, how about some other subject that might be puzzeling you. It can be anything about sail trim, sail trim controls for the main and jib or boat handling. Please no maintainence questions. This forum is dedicated to the beginner to high intermediate. That group has always been my favorite as I've not forgotten what it was like to be a beginner. I was confused and intimadated by all the sail trim controls and had no idea how they worked for each point of sail and wind condition.A while back I mentioned how great it would have been for me as a beginner to enter a room and ask my questions of a panel of experts and get a direct answer. Well mates, that what you have here. In my early sail trim years I wasted so much time asking dock neighbors about sail trim and getting mixed up answers. The problem was "I did not know what I didn't know" so I'd go out and try the techniques they suggested and they did not work because half the story was left off. Are there any beginners out there that are going to be racing this year for the first time? I'm more of a cruiser than a racer but I have done my share of racing. Would any beginners and middle to back of the pack racers be interested in knowing how to choose the favored end of the starting line?

 

[Don]

Dutchman set up

Not sure if/how this fits but might be timely. Every year we go through the pain and agony of setting up the main Dutchman system with great frustration trying to get it set up properly with a min of adjustments. I've read all the directions as have my dock mates who have similar frustrations getting their systems adjusted. We've all gotten used to playing with them but can't help but wonder if there are any good tips to minimize the time involved so we can get out of the dock.

 

[Kerry]

Racing

Don, just so happens I am racing my Oceanis 400 for the first time this year. Any information you can provide will be appreciated. Also, did not see to much about the vang in your sail trim articles. I am still trying to figure out how it works into the mix. Also how do I get the most out of my boat with a 110 jib in the races. The 400 has a PHRF of 98, and my club handicap is 128. In order to increase my handicap, I have to sail 85% of the boats capability.

 

[sjs21474]

Vang sheeting

I understand the use of the vang off the wind to control twist but, despite the efforts of others to explain it, I cannot comprehend how a vang helps with sheeting upwind. I know it can bend the mast and flatten the sail, but racers seem to use it for more than that upwind, such as with angle of attack. Seems to me that upwind the mainsheet is in so tight there is no room for the vang to do anything with angle of attack. What am I missing?

 

[Alan]

Kerry

YRA-LIS rates the Beneteau 400 @ 111 w/ a 153 genoa and full race ready (like feathering/folding prop, adjustable cars,....). Your club rating of 128 is extremely fair assuming you have the usual cruising gear onboard. Sailing at 85% is something to shoot at, but I don't understand how it can raise your rating? Please explain.

 

[Alan]

Don

My suggestion is dump the Dutchman. That's what we did. Dropping the main is a 2 man operation. The mastman steps on the main halyard to control the drop and flake the luff, the other flakes the leech and ties the sailties as he works his way forward. Never fails and no adjustments to worry about. I believe in KISS.(Keep it simple sailor)

 

[Alan]

sjs

Vang cannot and does not control angle of attack. That is a factor of mainsheet and traveler. Vang controls leech tension(twist) and draft position.

 

[Kerry]

85% club rating

Alan,Sailing club has a handicap formula to equalize the varity of boats. Your "club handycap" is adjusted according to your performance. They have a sanbagging rule that says you must sail at 85% of what the boat should do, or you are considered sandbagging, and you handicap is not adjusted for the race. Still not to sure how the "85%" is derived, but will find out over the next several races. Just wandering if with a 110 jib, fixed prop, and little racing experince, if I can make the 85%. :=)

 

[Don Guillette]

Racing

Kerry (FL): I think you'll find racing a lot of fun. I do because I don't take it seriously. My goal is to get 100% out of the boat with the least amount of mistakes and where we come in, we come in. I also treat each leg as a race in itself. that way I know where I have to improve. Dennis Conner said "there is no such thing as racing trim and cruising trim. There is only a right way and a wrong way to trim a main and jib". I agree with him. If I were just getting involved in racing (or cruising)for the first time the first things I'd want to understand is what is involved with making the boat go forward. It is draft depth, draft position, twist and angle of attack. Next I'd want to know how all the sail trim controls for the main and jib effect those 4 elements. Once I know that stuff I can be competitive. The first couple of times out, I may end up in the middle of the pack but I won't be last. After I can get 100% out of the boat on any point of sail then I would start to work on my starting line tactics.Well you say, that is easier said than done and where do I get this info? Easy, buy my book and sail trim chart, which is available at the ships store on this site. If you spend about 3 or 4 hours REALLY studying my material I guarantee you will finish your first race in the middle of the pack because you'll know more about sail trim than 75% of the sailors worldwide. If you don't think you got your monies worth out of the material, I'll refund your money and you can keep the stuff!!My book explains the boom vang - and all the other sail trim controls for the main and jib -in detail but briefly the vang is used to control twist in the mainsail. Crank on the vang and twist is eliminated. Ease it off and twist appears. Actaully, I don't think a 110 jib is really big enough for racing or cruising. I think you'd be more happier with the results if you had say a 135.

 

[Rick D]

I think Don Is Being A Bit Modest About

...his racing career

 

[Don Guillette]

Racing

OOps, Rick caught me!! Actually, I have a couple of racing personalities. On the PHRF and beer can stuff, I've been that route and don't do it much anymore. The boats I now go on are generally the middle to back of the pack. In other words, guys that want to improve their position. My feeling is that if your going to spend the race fee you may as well get the best out of the boat that she can give or otherwise save the money and get a couple of six packs of tinny's and enjoy a sail around the bay. As I mentioned, if we get the best out of the boat, get a good start, have few mistakes, hold our own on each leg and pick off a couple of boats on the downwind leg I'm happy and I've had a fun filled couple of hours.I've also done some off shore stuff and long distance (Newport to Ensenada)but that stuff doesn't turn me on anymore.Here's what turns me on - match racing or same class racing!! That's the real test of seamanship when you match evenly classed boats against each other. One example is the Catalina 30 National Regatta. This year it will be in Seattle but unfortuantely I can't attend - its a money thing.In match racing my other personality kicks in. My idea is to beat you to death and nothing but a 1st is satisfactory. Dale Earhart said the guy who comes in 2nd is the first among those that did not win. That is my match racing philosophy also. Unfortunately, the best our Catalina national team crew has been able to do is 2nd. We rarely finish below that and that is with a pickup loaner boat that we have never sailed until the day we arrive at the event. We almost pulled off a first in Santa Cruz a couple of years ago in 40 knots winds and a class of 19 C30's. That 2nd I did not mind.

 

[Osprey17220]

Vang Sheeting Article

Check out http://tinyurl.com/7l6lp