As background to this post please have a look at :- http://www.sailingmagazine.net/boattest_hunter33.html Specifically Para 5 Last sentence and Para 7 2nd sentence. Is this normal practice? Why change tracks? Surely the normal practice, certainly in England, when bearing away i.e. from close hauled (beating or hard on the wind) to a reaching course, is simply to ease the foresail sheet. In a racing situation, the time and ground lost whilst changing tracks,would be punitive. Even when not racing, changing tracks in anything F4 and above would be pretty hairy, if not dangerous, with the outer track probably underwater. The only way I can see the system working is by using 4 foresail sheets, 2 led to inboard tracks, 2 to outboard. Is this how you do it?
- Status
Being this issue gets raised ...
...in a racing forum, we can discuss a more complete set of sail trimming options When bearing away, not only do the sheets get eased but the cars are moved forward and outboard. If your boat is set up with inboard and outboard tracks you could use twin sheets or you could use a "changing sheet". A changing sheet is nothing more than an additional sheet that is added to the clew just before the change over. If you would like to spend a little more money they have a car that can be adjusted athwart ships as well as fore and aft.
...in a racing forum, we can discuss a more complete set of sail trimming options When bearing away, not only do the sheets get eased but the cars are moved forward and outboard. If your boat is set up with inboard and outboard tracks you could use twin sheets or you could use a "changing sheet". A changing sheet is nothing more than an additional sheet that is added to the clew just before the change over. If you would like to spend a little more money they have a car that can be adjusted athwart ships as well as fore and aft.
Thanks Alan
Thanks Alan for that information. Not clear what you mean by "twin" sheets, Do you mean that you would have sheets rigged in each track, both outboard and inboard, so that, for example, if closed hauled on Port tack, the portside inboard sheet would be in use. Then when bearing away this is eased and the port outer sheet and track come into use as the inner is eased. Could this be done by a crew of 2 people, one of which is the helmsman.? Changing sheet. I understand the idea in principle but where does it come from at the other end.Attaching to the clew takes place where?, fore or aft of the shrouds? If I sent you my e-mail address, could you send me photo's of set up, especially the athwartships set up. If you look at http://www.ybw.com/forums/postlist.php?Cat=0&Board=pbo&page=0&PHPSESSID= its an English Sailing Forum. The Post "A Question for James Jermain" in the Reader to Reader Section will give you the background to my seeking info. from the U.S.A. Thanks again, Alan "Pugwash" Coombs.
Thanks Alan for that information. Not clear what you mean by "twin" sheets, Do you mean that you would have sheets rigged in each track, both outboard and inboard, so that, for example, if closed hauled on Port tack, the portside inboard sheet would be in use. Then when bearing away this is eased and the port outer sheet and track come into use as the inner is eased. Could this be done by a crew of 2 people, one of which is the helmsman.? Changing sheet. I understand the idea in principle but where does it come from at the other end.Attaching to the clew takes place where?, fore or aft of the shrouds? If I sent you my e-mail address, could you send me photo's of set up, especially the athwartships set up. If you look at http://www.ybw.com/forums/postlist.php?Cat=0&Board=pbo&page=0&PHPSESSID= its an English Sailing Forum. The Post "A Question for James Jermain" in the Reader to Reader Section will give you the background to my seeking info. from the U.S.A. Thanks again, Alan "Pugwash" Coombs.
Pugwash
OK, I read your posts on the link you sent. Now I have a better understanding of what you are asking. It appears that there are a number of concerns with this boat. I'm going to assume it has a large full roached main on a B&R rig, no backstay and a small fractional headstay. If this is correct, It will be vitally important to be able to flatten the main to almost a board in a good blow. However, the lack of a backstay is a definite disadvantage in that bending the mast is of primary importance to depowering the main. Without the backstay you will need to make sure that the outhaul, cunningham, and vang are in top operating condition. As the breeze builds the main needs to be made as flat as possible not to over power the small jib. Reefing will need to be considered early and quickly. You should practice having a reef in in under 1 minute. My Legend 35.5 came with genoa tracks for a 155 to 135 genoa. I added coach roof tracks for a 100 jib which are mounted inboard of the bigger genoa tracks. Pointing with the #3 on the forward tracks is vastly superior to the bigger genoa and a lot more controllable in higher winds.
OK, I read your posts on the link you sent. Now I have a better understanding of what you are asking. It appears that there are a number of concerns with this boat. I'm going to assume it has a large full roached main on a B&R rig, no backstay and a small fractional headstay. If this is correct, It will be vitally important to be able to flatten the main to almost a board in a good blow. However, the lack of a backstay is a definite disadvantage in that bending the mast is of primary importance to depowering the main. Without the backstay you will need to make sure that the outhaul, cunningham, and vang are in top operating condition. As the breeze builds the main needs to be made as flat as possible not to over power the small jib. Reefing will need to be considered early and quickly. You should practice having a reef in in under 1 minute. My Legend 35.5 came with genoa tracks for a 155 to 135 genoa. I added coach roof tracks for a 100 jib which are mounted inboard of the bigger genoa tracks. Pointing with the #3 on the forward tracks is vastly superior to the bigger genoa and a lot more controllable in higher winds.
Pugwash
To continue.... When falling off, the sheet is eased and the cars are moved forward. If you like you can add a snatch block to the rail and add your changing sheet to that block effectively moving the sheet leads outboard. Then release the inboard sheet and trim with the changing sheet. Of course with more crew and a little practice this will happen very easily. With only 2 crew it will just take a little longer but will be no more difficult. The key to keeping the boat under control in bigger breeze is the mainsheet and traveler. Keep the main flat, lower the traveler little by little and when that is no longer effective, reef.
To continue.... When falling off, the sheet is eased and the cars are moved forward. If you like you can add a snatch block to the rail and add your changing sheet to that block effectively moving the sheet leads outboard. Then release the inboard sheet and trim with the changing sheet. Of course with more crew and a little practice this will happen very easily. With only 2 crew it will just take a little longer but will be no more difficult. The key to keeping the boat under control in bigger breeze is the mainsheet and traveler. Keep the main flat, lower the traveler little by little and when that is no longer effective, reef.
Thanks Again Alan
Hi Alan, Your assumptions are correct. My opinion is that,in a blow,even when fully flattened,the Main is overpowering the Foresail,not because of its size,but because of the larger slot created by using the outboard track. As the inboard track is the "as fitted /standard one," it was sited on the coachroof as a result of the designed sail plan and the sail balance is based on this. I would have thought any variation in track position would affect performance. I have tried contacting other Hunter/Legend 33 Owners but have had no success so far. Found interesting site at http://www.wb-sails.fi/news/SailTrimSim/TrimSimFrames.htm If you are interested, have a look at the Sailng Photo Album on my website,towards the end of next week,when I hope to have some pictures of the aforesaid Legend on view. http://www.alancoombs.co.uk/ Best wishes, Alan
Hi Alan, Your assumptions are correct. My opinion is that,in a blow,even when fully flattened,the Main is overpowering the Foresail,not because of its size,but because of the larger slot created by using the outboard track. As the inboard track is the "as fitted /standard one," it was sited on the coachroof as a result of the designed sail plan and the sail balance is based on this. I would have thought any variation in track position would affect performance. I have tried contacting other Hunter/Legend 33 Owners but have had no success so far. Found interesting site at http://www.wb-sails.fi/news/SailTrimSim/TrimSimFrames.htm If you are interested, have a look at the Sailng Photo Album on my website,towards the end of next week,when I hope to have some pictures of the aforesaid Legend on view. http://www.alancoombs.co.uk/ Best wishes, Alan
- Status