[Rhodes22-list] Partial Mainsail

Arthur H. Czerwonky czerwonky at earthlink.net
Mon Jul 27 12:03:29 EDT 2009 

Michael,

These 'board up' options are a new one to me, partly because I began serious sailing in a racing mode.  I do not know of anyone who would beat into the wind with the board up in competition, certainly due to slippage, which Hank emphasizes so well, but also the risk of knockdown.  I have never tried it, Michael, but I'd approach this technique with caution, especially if your wife is aboard.  

Happy sailing,

Art


-----Original Message-----
>From: MichaelT <mticse at gmail.com>
>Sent: Jul 27, 2009 9:56 AM
>To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Partial Mainsail
>
>
>Thanks for the first hand knowledge wrt the centerboard.
>You've certainly changed the fundamentals of my logic. Womehow my flawed
>thinking was that with the board up that the Rhodes would heel more and
>difficult to turn. On the contrary, the Rhodes actually sails better (i.e.
>less heel, easy to to turn) with the board up. Definitely something I will
>do this week. 
>
>Thanks Lee!
>Michael
>
>
>Leland wrote:
>> 
>> Michael,
>> 
>> With the board down it will allow you to sail closer to the wind and make
>> better headway (less drifting).
>> 
>> However, the faster you go the less impact the board will have on both
>> sailing close to the wind and headway.  The board is most useful if you
>> want to make headway in light wind.
>> 
>> I'm a daysailor so the only time I need to make better headway is if it's
>> necessary to get back to my marina at the end of the day.  With
>> yesterday's high wind and the current and chop pushing me away from the
>> wind, I never once lowered my board and sailed part of the time on broad
>> reaches and runs.  On tacks the boat turned like a sports car.
>> 
>> With the board down it will act as a pivot point and allow you to turn
>> easier whether you are tacking or motoring around your slip.  I don't use
>> if for either one.
>> 
>> I've measured my speed countless times with the board up and down and it
>> has always had a negative impact on speed.  I think the term is VMG
>> (velocity made good?) which measures how much headway you're actually
>> making.  If I could figure out how to measure it on my GPS I'm sure it
>> would show that the board helps, but with the reduction in speed it sure
>> doesn't seem that way.
>> 
>> Lee
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> MichaelT wrote:
>>> 
>>> Lee,
>>> 
>>> I was just thinking about bringing the centerboard up as you suggested,
>>> but have concerns.
>>> Did you flip bringing the centerboard up and down. Down when tacking and
>>> up after the tack?
>>> I remember when I forgot to let the centerboard down and all I could
>>> remember was going sideways and difficulty in making headway. In essence
>>> the boat was slipping and pushed sideways by the wind when the
>>> centerboard is up. I suppose as long as we don't need to be anywhere soon
>>> this is all fine.
>>> At the end I'll have to let my wife judge!
>>> 
>>> Great suggestion!
>>> Michael
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Leland wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Michael,
>>>> 
>>>> You're getting lots of good advice.
>>>> 
>>>> You'll have a little less heel with the board up.  From the Rhodes
>>>> Owners' Site under FAQs under Rhodes vs. Com-Pac vs. Precisions:  5.
>>>> Retract the centerboard part way in a big breeze. The board is
>>>> intentionally modest in weight, and does not contribute significantly to
>>>> stability up or down. Raising the board part way will reduce both heel
>>>> and weather helm.  
>>>> 
>>>> The quote refers to Precisions.  If I raise the board all the way on my
>>>> Rhodes it usually only reduces heel by about 3 degrees but your wife may
>>>> appreciate it.
>>>> 
>>>> In an 8-10 knot wind, lowering the boom will reduce heel also.  
>>>> 
>>>> As Dave mentioned the boat sails better with two sails.  For the amount
>>>> of wind you described you probably weren't going fast enough to tack. 
>>>> Come off the wind enough to get up some speed and you'll then be able to
>>>> turn her sharply into the wind.
>>>> 
>>>> When I first got my Rhodes I typically had too much sail out.  You were
>>>> wise to be conservative in your sail plan, but without any headsail and
>>>> so little main you probably couldn't get enough speed to tack even if
>>>> you had come off the wind.  Last week I was in a 12 knot wind.  On a
>>>> close reach with balanced sails with the board up and my 190 lbs of rail
>>>> meat, I had less than 20 degrees of heel with the boom up and the main
>>>> reefed to 80%.  With the boom down I had the same heel with 100% main. 
>>>> I have my mainsail furling line marked for reefs at 60% and 80%.  If I
>>>> have to reef the tiny little main beyond 60%, it's too windy for me
>>>> (over 20 knots) and I go home.
>>>> 
>>>> Good luck!
>>>> 
>>>> Lee
>>>> 1986 Rhodes22  At Ease
>>>> Kent Island, MD
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> david.walker5 wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> Stephen,
>>>>> 
>>>>> Tacking with the jib, especially very light or heavy wind can be
>>>>> challenging 
>>>>> too.  The problem is the jib is very powerfull and it wants to push the
>>>>> boat 
>>>>> away from the tack.  One technique that has worked for me is something
>>>>> I 
>>>>> borrowed from sailing a square rigger.  When you push the tiller to
>>>>> lee, 
>>>>> loosen the jibe immediately, but do not let the sheet fly.(for those 
>>>>> interested its called scandalizing the jib)  This reduces the drive of
>>>>> the 
>>>>> sail and allows it to turn up wind.  Just as the bow comes into the
>>>>> wind, 
>>>>> tighten the sheet a little. The wind will then backwind the jib and
>>>>> push the 
>>>>> bow the rest of the way onto the new tack. As you come through the
>>>>> wind, the 
>>>>> wind on the new tack will push the sail across to the new tack.  In
>>>>> really 
>>>>> heavy wind you may end up "in stays" or headed into the wind and start
>>>>> to be 
>>>>> pushed backwards.  In that case as I said in an earlier post, shift the 
>>>>> rudder (tiller to windward) and the boat will back onto the new tack
>>>>> and 
>>>>> start to sail.
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> David Walker
>>>>> 
>>>>> www.davidwalkerphotography.com
>>>>> 
>>>>> Event Specialists
>>>>> 
>>>>> 781-639-2707 Office
>>>>> 781-718-8690 Cell
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>> From: "Stephen Staum" <staum at earthlink.net>
>>>>> To: "The Rhodes 22 Email List" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>>>> Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 3:32 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Partial Mainsail
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>>> Michael,
>>>>>> I too have a wife who likes to sail flat. I have an '87 w a 184 per
>>>>>> cent genoa. I usually start w 1/2 of the genny as the jib really
>>>>>> powers this boat. Even w the full main out (alone) u will struggle to
>>>>>> come about. Also, if u have the full jib out in light winds, it can be
>>>>>> very difficult 2 get the jib 2 come across when coming about. It is
>>>>>> often easier 2 jibe or roll up 1/2 the jib b4 come about is started.
>>>>>> Enjoy!
>>>>>> Stephen Staum
>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Jul 24, 2009, at 12:47 PM, MichaelT <mticse at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Went out with the family on Sunday and wanted to play it safe.
>>>>>>> Drew the IMF mainsail approx halfway on the boom (the letter R on
>>>>>>> the sail
>>>>>>> wasn't showing).
>>>>>>> Wanted to keep things simple and used no jib. Centerboard was down
>>>>>>> all the
>>>>>>> way.
>>>>>>> The boat stayed flat as a pancake which was the desired effect.
>>>>>>> My wife wants no heeling whatsoever. Problem I had was I couldn't
>>>>>>> tack.
>>>>>>> It even had a hard time getting into irons and just couldn't cutover.
>>>>>>> The only way I could change direction was to spin 2/3's around in a
>>>>>>> jibe.
>>>>>>> I didn't want to experiment and let out more sail so we just enjoyed
>>>>>>> sailing
>>>>>>> the next hour like this.
>>>>>>> Is this normal behaviour? What am I doing wrong?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>> Michael
>>>>>>> -- 
>>>>>>> View this message in context: 
>>>>>>> http://www.nabble.com/Partial-Mainsail-tp24647946p24647946.html
>>>>>>> Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>>>>>>>
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>>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> __________________________________________________
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>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>
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>Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
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