505 Fleet Training Day – with Andy Zinn

March 29, 2003

MBYC

Notes of Ben Wood

Foils

New high aspect “Larry foils” are out. Don’t get the older design. Centerboards offered in two sizes: 475 cm2 and 510cm2. (Standard Lindsay ~580cm2)

Concept: New foils are higher aspect, reduced CB area, increased rudder area, to share the load and increase lift / drag performance off both surfaces.

Mast

Difference between Procter D and Cumulus. D – longer fore/aft, but more flexible athwartships. Same performance upwind, but less main twist-off downwind in heavy air with Cumulus.

To fix this on the Ds: Expensive = add the floppy stays to the top of the mast. Cheaper = run trap wire to top of mast (for the run) with tweakers coming out of the existing t-block holes for upwind.

Note: NEVER put holes in the mast at the widest part of the section. Always keep them off the primary axis. (or else it will BREAK)

Main trim

Trimming the main “rule of thumb”. When boom is at the centerline, you are at max power. If you spend a lot of time trimmed like this, then look to make rig more powerful. When boom is out past the corner of the transom, you are overpowered. Look to depower the boat so that more time is spent in the sweet spot.

Ram

Moves the bend in the mast up or down. Tight ram, bend moves up. (Eased ram – bend moves down).

Objective: Have the max bend of the sail always at the max luff point of the sail, as it is cut. The point never changes. It is the theoretical point for the max bend at all points of sail, in all conditions. (Exception: if absolutely nuking / survival conditions, once at max rake, if still overpowered, you can run a looser ram to let main twist off more, further depowering the main.) When leaving the dock, put a pin in the ram track just below the expected adjustment range so that the mast cannot invert going downwind in big air conditions.

Rake

As entering planing conditions, steps to reduce power (to keep it balanced) 1. Let the mast back (up to a point) (rake and then tension the shrouds accordingly) 2. Move you weight back, (but generally not as far as you may think) 3. Move mast and centerboard back (in the extremes, to reduce the load on the rudder)

Looking at the Superboat

“No Friction, No confusion, No tangles!” Until the boat is ready, you’ll always have your ‘head in the boat’ when it should be looking for wind, marks and competition.

Rake – two block the controls when at 25’ 8”.

Rig tension (24:1) add until leeward shroud (going upwind) is just not slack.

Rake and rig tension share a takeup bungee to reduce clutter.

Vang (24:1) – at 25’8” have no tail in the boat

Barberhauler for jib run to opposite side of boat for helm control.

Reduce the number of moving parts. Use bulls-eye targets with stainless inserts or floppy blocks instead of a block on an eye.

Jib halyard is spectra with cover over the section that runs on the sheave in the mast. Also, tail of the jib halyard can be connected to the forestay so that movements are matched. (Don’t want to have to adjust halyard after changing rake.) Note: Andy constantly is adjusting the jib halyard tension, so make it work.

Other comments: Hiking strap – aft of the thwart is taught above the floor, for easy hook in.

Get non-skid all the way to the back of the boat.

Maneuvers

Tack (Crew) – take one pull of new sheet while in the boat, then another grab at the block before going across. Careful not to overtrim the sail! Mark the sheet so that repeatable setting can be used!

Tack (helm) – pre-move is aft, then move forward and follow the extension under the boom. Switch hands on the tiller (in the behind the back move) while standing.

Planing downwind SHUT THE BAILERS! Or the foils will stall and you will wipe out! In an ideal boat: Recommend big bailer aft, little bailer forward.

When launching the kite, crew pulls half the sail out onto the deck before launching pole. In all cases, crew’s goal should be to get pole out in 3 pulls!

Boat tuning activities

Never tune with more than 3 boats in a group. Go 2-3 minutes in one direction, no more than 2 boat lengths apart. When talking, determine who was faster and review the jib: sheet tension, telltale reference, halyard, draft, etc) Closing Comments In almost every case, the boats were OVERTRIMMING the jib and UNDERTRIMING the main. Think: 1. keep the telltale flowing on the jib and 2. top batten parallel to the boom.

Happy sailing.