| |
LIGHT WINDS Up
to Force 1 |
MEDIUM WINDS Force
2 to 4 |
HEAVY WINDS Force
5 + |
| MAST RAKE for
helms of average weight 6 -7 stone, 35-45kg |
Around 112in
285cm |
Around lllin
282cm |
Around 110in
280cm |
| |
The heavier the
helm, then the more upright the mast. (Above is for Winner Hull - others may vary) |
| BOOM STROP |
Use boom span rope approx. 60 to 70cm apart
and sheet from the centre of the span. This keeps a firm leach. |
As in light winds. |
Use a tight centre strop on the boom. As you
sheet in, the boom will bend thus opening and depowering the leach of the sail |
| SPRIT |
Firm enough to give good sail shape, no
creases |
Firmer, to remove creases on beat. Ease on
runs for no creases. |
Tight, to flatten upper area of sail. If still
overpowered and in very strong wind let sprit off to allow leach to fall away and de-power
the sail. Ensure Kicker is on hard. |
| MAIN SHEET |
2:1 purchase. Use thin main sheet which will
run through the blocks more easily - 5 to 6mm rope. |
3:1 purchase. As wind strength
increases, move up to thicker main sheet, usually 8mm maximum.
|
| |
Ensure you have good quality
blocks which run freely. The ratchet should be easily adjustable and should not slip off
in heavy weather. The mainsheet should be played at all times for the sail trip and to
keep the boat flat. A snap shackle on the becket instead of a bowline will allow
easy changes from 3:1 to 2:1 purchase. This reduces the weight of rope on the boom for
light wind kiting. |
| KICKING STRAP |
Set loose with little except on
reach. i.e. Sagging slightly on the beat |
Set firm to very tight |
| OUTHAUL |
Firm to medium |
Light to medium |
Firm to tight |
| Put on a scale so you can judge where your
clew is. |
Outhaul tension will depend upon water state.
Flat water = firmer outhaul; waves = slacker outhaul. (This will give you more power but
reduce pointing ability.) |
|
|
| BOOM TIES |
All ties close to the maximum allowed of 10mm. |
As wind strength increases tighten up tack and
clew ties to firm against the boom |
All ties close to the maximum allowed of 10mm. |
| LUFF TENSION |
Set luff loose and ensure sail is within the
black bands |
Set loose to firm as kicker tension is
increased. |
Set firm with tighter kicker. |
| |
Set by using rope over pin at the
front of the mast and control with twists in rope. More twists = less luff tension |
| MAST TIES |
Top and bottom ties 10mm max. from mast. Other
ties 5 mm from mast |
All ties firm against the mast. In the dinghy
park they may seem too tight. The wind will set them off the mast |
Top and bottom ties 100 max. from mast, other
ties firm against mast. |
| |
For heavier weight sailors, all
ties should be firm against in all conditions except very light winds. |
|
LIGHT WINDS Up to Force 1 |
MEDIUM WINDS Force 2 to 4 |
HEAVY WINDS Force 5 + |
| THE BEAT |
Fore and aft trim |
|
Sit in the middle of the boat just
behind the thwart |
Sit on the side of the boat just
aft of the centre thwart, moving your position back as the wind increases. Shift upper
torso to help the boat over the waves and to avoid bow "slamming". |
Sit further back as the wind
increases. Do not dig the transom in the water - this is slow sailing. Heavier helms must
not move back too far as the transom will dig in. All move forward in the lulls |
|
Heel |
|
Keep the boat flat. Sit on the
gunwhale and lean in to avoid too much windward heel. |
Keep boat flat all of the time,
hiking harder as the wind increases |
Keep the boat flat at all times.
Hike as hard as possible - or harder! |
|
Centreboard |
|
Keep board upright or tilt it
slightly forward. Use strop over board to keep it down. |
Keep board vertical, rake it aft as
wind increases |
Tilt aft as wind increases. Raise
it by up to 10cm if overpowered, perhaps more for extreme conditions. Perhaps more for
lightweights. |
| THE REACH |
Fore and aft trim |
|
Sit low in the boat |
Sit on the side of the boat moving
your weight back as the wind increases |
Move weight back as wind increases,
hike hard. |
|
|
Move weight backwards
and forwards to keep boat planing on the waves on each puff of wind. Bear away and sheet
in slightly. |
|
Heel |
|
Keep the boat flat. |
Keep boat flat or slightly heel to
windward. |
Keep the boat flat at all times.
Hike as hard as possible . |
|
Centreboard |
|
Raise
the board by a maximum of 60cm, put on marks so you can judge where it is.
|
| THE RUN |
Fore and aft trim |
|
Kite boat in middle |
Sit in the middle of the boat |
Move weight aft as bows dig in |
|
Heel |
|
Heel the boat to windward. (Kiting)
Boom out beyond 90° to ensure it does not swing back. |
Sit on the side of the boat and
heel the boat hard to windward. Boom out to max of 90° |
Sit on side of boat and heel the
boat to windward. Boom out to 75-80°. If boom is out too far you will become unstable. |
|
Centreboard |
|
Raise board fully |
Raise board fully |
Lower board slightly, 10cm Max. |
Lawrie Draper, Optimist Class Coach, 1991-1994.
Updated by Peter Martin, Optimist Class Coach, 1996 è
Produced by IOCA(UK), December 1996
