We got an hour or so of decent wind at the lake yesterday – enough to get the jib tales flowing and for the boys - Telltale Mikey and Whitecap Jeff - to take the helm and steer by the jib woolies. Good stuff in Don’s book – we adjusted the jib cars – got the telltales to break together and then the boys learned to steer by watching the bottom ones (what they could see from the helm, I kept eye on the higher telltales). After a bit they got pretty good at steering away from the breaking telltale as the wind shifted. Especially the older one (Telltale Mikey - 11). The younger guy – Whitecap Jeff (9) wandered a bit, he tends to over correct – still a good learning for all of us. I am sure his steering will settle down as he gets more experience. It seems that once the Jib is set up - the cars in position – then all you have to do is watch the bottom telltale for trim or steering, as they are all breaking together any way? We just kept the main ‘close’ to good trim this time – we will try to graduate to working the telltales on the main as we progress - I had enough to do watching my helmsmen!
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Telltale mickey and Whitecap Jeff
Kevin: Sounds like you guys had a grand day! Isn't it amazing how well the boat responds when the fairleads are set correctly. Sadly, so many sailors don't bother with that simple adjustment. They just leave the fairlead car in place and the only time it is right (like the broken clock)is at one particular point of sail and wind condition. It is wrong all the rest of the time. Additionally, you'll be amazed at how fast kids pick up on this sailing stuff. Sooner than you think, you'll be sitting back and they will be running the show.
Kevin: Sounds like you guys had a grand day! Isn't it amazing how well the boat responds when the fairleads are set correctly. Sadly, so many sailors don't bother with that simple adjustment. They just leave the fairlead car in place and the only time it is right (like the broken clock)is at one particular point of sail and wind condition. It is wrong all the rest of the time. Additionally, you'll be amazed at how fast kids pick up on this sailing stuff. Sooner than you think, you'll be sitting back and they will be running the show.
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