Stu,
To find best VMG downwind, wouldn't you set the waypoint 1000 miles dead downwind ? Just like the upwind leg. Then find the heading that gives you best VMG.
Todd
Sailing fast with instruments
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To find best VMG downwind, wouldn't you set the waypoint 1000 miles dead downwind ? Just like the upwind leg. Then find the heading that gives you best VMG.
Todd
Two different things
Todd,
Good point. I dunno.
Going upwind you have two different VMGs to deal with, the best "wind" VMG is the 1,000 mile waypoint, while you also have the VMG to the next mark (if you are racing). If you're cruising you have them, too, if where you're going is upwind and not directly in line with the wind. The race committee tries to set the line perpendicular to the wind with the first mark directly upwind, but that doesn't always work out perfectly. Going downwind you just want to get to the next mark. Of course, if you're doing a lot of gybing, then it would help to know the wind direction, but your angles are more important to the next mark. I don't run a spinnaker, so I don't have the understanding of how important that "far away" waypoint is for downwind sailing.
Anybody wanna chime in?
Todd,
Good point. I dunno.
Going upwind you have two different VMGs to deal with, the best "wind" VMG is the 1,000 mile waypoint, while you also have the VMG to the next mark (if you are racing). If you're cruising you have them, too, if where you're going is upwind and not directly in line with the wind. The race committee tries to set the line perpendicular to the wind with the first mark directly upwind, but that doesn't always work out perfectly. Going downwind you just want to get to the next mark. Of course, if you're doing a lot of gybing, then it would help to know the wind direction, but your angles are more important to the next mark. I don't run a spinnaker, so I don't have the understanding of how important that "far away" waypoint is for downwind sailing.
Anybody wanna chime in?
From my many years of J22 racing in Annapolis, the race committee would purposely favor the pin end. This forces the fleet to the pin end, providing the committee with a greater possibility of a clear view of the line so they can observe anyone over early.
Re: Two different things
Stu,
Most of my sailing is racing, in the spinnaker division. But I also do some non-spinnaker racing. Depending on the boat and sails, it might be faster to get to a destination that is dead downwind by "tacking downwind". You can use a "VMG" downwind indicator to find the correct angle. However, my experience is that most boats without a spinnaker are faster just pointing dead downwind.
Stu,
Most of my sailing is racing, in the spinnaker division. But I also do some non-spinnaker racing. Depending on the boat and sails, it might be faster to get to a destination that is dead downwind by "tacking downwind". You can use a "VMG" downwind indicator to find the correct angle. However, my experience is that most boats without a spinnaker are faster just pointing dead downwind.
Well
Downwind the boats polars really come into play as at say 16 knots of wind there may no longer be and advantage to sailing and angle Vs DDW
And again i know from the past you have to avoid instrument fixation and wactch whats going on
We have the VMG chip and do NOT use it becasue we dont have the funds for a polar units input for are boat
Downwind the boats polars really come into play as at say 16 knots of wind there may no longer be and advantage to sailing and angle Vs DDW
And again i know from the past you have to avoid instrument fixation and wactch whats going on
We have the VMG chip and do NOT use it becasue we dont have the funds for a polar units input for are boat
Witz...
having been committee boat on more than one occasion, I can add that setting a line that slightly favors the pin end also keeps the "kamakazi bargers" from scaring the wits out of the committee as well as the committee boat owner!
having been committee boat on more than one occasion, I can add that setting a line that slightly favors the pin end also keeps the "kamakazi bargers" from scaring the wits out of the committee as well as the committee boat owner!
Depends... did you learn to sail by reading a book, or by sailing? If you're using a windspeed indicator to tell you when to change sails, you're learned from some book that "Sail X is used on boat Y in winds from 12-17 knots". If you change sail when you FEEL the boat being overcanvassed, you've learned to SAIL and don't need instruments (Or even better you can see the wind pickiing up and change sails BEFORE the increase is seen on the instruments)
druid
druid
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