Racing in 2 knots of breeze.

[Jackdaw]

Summer means light airs on Lake Minnetonka. It's early in the season, but last night we started a race in 3 knots of breeze. It dropped to 2 and the RC abandoned that sucker.

On a big boat like BlueJ (24.5 LOA, 4500 lbs) we have to work hard to be competitive vs full-on race boats that weigh half of we do.
A clean bottom is a must.
Then we soften the rig way down to create headstay sag.
Crew weight always low to reduce whetted surface area and keep the sails shaped.
Let the sails breathe
Trim by hand
Constant communitation about trim, angle, boatspeed, pressure
Focus on boat speed
Stay in pressure
Stay in clear air
Keep the boat moving at all cost.

Other light-air tips from others????

When they abandoned two of our big foes were behind us and leeward, a Merit 25 and a Kirby 25. Both owe us time, so we're happy were near them in this stuff.

 

[walt]

I think in one of your pictures in the past you were using a boomkicker?? I had one for a while and could not really see the light air benefit from this.. but you probably have to be racing to notice.

This could also be incorrect but it seems (ie, no proof at all.. could be way off) that very light air is where end plating of the jib (ie, closing the gap) makes more of a difference..

 

[Justin_NSA]

All I can add is maybe some inspiring music like Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries to make you feel like going faster.
2kt breeze is frustrating. You feel like control is almost nonexistent. Just be ready for that puff.

 

[Jackdaw]

I think in one of your pictures in the past you were using a boomkicker?? I had one for a while and could not really see the light air benefit from this.. but you probably have to be racing to notice.

This could also be incorrect but it seems (ie, no proof at all.. could be way off) that very light air is where end plating of the jib (ie, closing the gap) makes more of a difference..

Walt,

For sure a boomkicker helps keep shape in light airs. It's hard to see in this pic (it's perfectly in line with the camera) but the boomkicker is there. Its actually holding the boom at that height right now.

We're really soft on the headsail here. Normally the foot of the sail is about 10 inches off the deck (height of the furler drum). We sheeted off and the clew and foot goes up. Now plate effect MIGHT help, but we look at keeping the sail drawing.

 

[Jackdaw]

I think in one of your pictures in the past you were using a boomkicker?? I had one for a while and could not really see the light air benefit from this.. but you probably have to be racing to notice.

This could also be incorrect but it seems (ie, no proof at all.. could be way off) that very light air is where end plating of the jib (ie, closing the gap) makes more of a difference..

Exactly. Even moving toward it the breeze feels very light. But upwind is better than down. Downwind with the kite we move exactly as fast as the wind. There is ZERO apparent wind! We use lightweight sheets with stripped ends and soft shackles for attachment. Even with 600 sqr feet of spinnaker the weight of the sheet, shackle and guard on our breezy sheets will pull shape out of the sail.

That's why we sheet by hand. And non-trim crew is looking up the course for pressure!

 

[Parsons]

Great advice, Jackdaw. Light air sailing is truly searching for every pound of forward pressure. I'd add to your comment about keeping sail shape. Sails only works as lifting foils when it they are shaped like a wing, but this is difficult in light air because there is minimal pressure forcing against the windward side of the sails. Every movement of the boat shakes the sail, and during those periods there is no lift and pressure forward on the boat. You cannot control shaking by waves (which are thankfully few in light air). You can, however, reduce other shaking by minimizing crew movement where possible. Skippers can encourage the crew not to become bored and walk around making drinks. Imagine the sail as a giant bubble, and move accordingly.

BTW: We opened our season on the Huron side of Michigan with 20 knots and 3-4 foot chop. It was somehow better than a light air floater, but I was sore afterwards.

 

[Jackdaw]

Parsons,

Great point.

When fully powered up, the boat locks on on an angle of heel held between the great force of the rig working against the underwater foils. When very light, none of this exists. So the boat bounces on any wave or crew shift, and that will shake the shape out of the sail. When that happens, no lift!

This is HUGE issue on weekends on Minnetonka. Light air days perversely draw out the powerboaters, who drag their 40 footers around kicking up 3 foot wakes. We'll be mousing along under kite when that hits us and collapses our sails.

Then the morons wave to us.

 

[frankies56]

Ha Ha you want what ? thats what my boat would say ! especially with all those powerboats going in a a hurry nowhere fast. I just get the big box fan and point it at the sail make for good following seas.
but that boat sure looks like she moving pretty good, kudos to you and crew

 

[Dan_Y]

On smaller mono and multi hulls we worked real hard to keep the hull level, e.g,. not plow thru the water with weight too aft. Maybe not as important for bigger boats. Wow, in the ChesBay a 2 knot day can get you in trouble with the current. Seems like every ATON is a boat magnet on days like that... Edit..I notice the crew is well distributed in the second photo.

 

[BayMan]

I feel the pain. I raced in 4kts with a 26,000 lb cruiser. I could have went below and cooked a 5 course dinner during the race.