posted March 25, 2003 03:44 PM            

Over the winter, I had the opportunity to attend a Shark fleet get together. One of the events was a panel discussion by two of the worlds best Shark sailors (1st & 2nd place in the Worlds) and a leading sailmaker. They gave some really good advice on how to make Sharks perform better.

Sharks have many of the same characteristics as a Sandpiper so I’m going to throw a few of the ideas out to the group. Even if you don’t race, There’s a certain satisfaction making your boat perform to its max. It’s a lot of fun sailing up a channel, boat well trimmed and tacking smoothly.

If you look at a J-24 or other newer designed boat, you’ll see a deep, very efficient keel profile underwater. That’s why they move so well. Since the Sandpiper has a much shallower keel (not as efficient but good for beaching) it is critical to keep water flowing over it at speed. Do not pinch the boat upwind. If you do it will stall. Right after a tack, let the boat run off slightly and accelerate. Once you’re moving well you can then steer the boat closer up into the wind. BUT NOT TOO CLOSE! Better to be moving faster slightly off the wind (45 degrees?) than trying to be an Americas Cup boat.

Keep the boat flat. Again the Sandpipers’ keel works best when only slightly healed not on its ear. If you get a gust and start to heal, that’s when you would start to pinch up slightly. Letting the main out also works as you maintain power but keep flat. If you let the boat heel too much it feels fast but you are actually slipping sideways.

Keep the weight well forward. When boats like the Sandpipers race the crew is usually forward on the rail. When tacking one crew doesn’t even come back into the cockpit: They just role over the cabin. Moving back to tack causes the stern to sit in the water, robbing the boat of speed.

Most skippers have a long extension tiller allowing them to get right forward and up on the coaming. This is for good weight placement (forward) and good visibility. It’s amazing how much better the boat moves when you do this. I know it will be tough to think about this when cruising especially when the Sandpipers’ cockpit seats are so comfortable.

Last summer, we were cruising off of the coast of Finland going through a narrow channel. We saw this beautiful 33-foot Swedish boat moving up the channel. The Swedes seem to like using a tiller even on larger keelboats. The tall blond woman at the helm was sitting up on the rail right at the cabin. From this position she had a marvelous view of the surroundings and her boat. I think of this woman often when I sail upwind, (not that way!) because even though cruising she was enjoying the performance of her boat, attuned to wind and wave.

Hope the above gets you thinking about spring sailing.

Um... I think I completed my thought, but I'm not sure, I should avoid writing big posts....

posted March 26, 2003 09:33 AM            

I'm quite sure that if I had $4,000,000.00 to spend on my Laser that it could get through 7 races without breaking down.

During the AC finals I compared their weather conditions to the conditions I faced in Nov/Dec in Nova Scotia. I am convinced that my CL 16 is a much more seaworthy craft then the "Teched-up" fibre-carbon monstrosities we saw in New Zealand.

posted March 27, 2003 01:15 AM            

He feels that one of the biggest threats to our sport is major money professional sports events like the Americas Cup. He was hopeful however because all over the world there is a renewed interest in racing old one design class boats. People seem to like the idea of a class where you cannot change anything on the boat: It makes for a very affordable kind of sailing. Some of the popular classes raced (like the Shark) haven't even been built for years. Henderson suggested that we might tighten up the class rules further by only allowing the use of one set of sails for the season (preferably purchased in the spring).

So guys: Keep racing and sailing those marvellous CLs & Sandpipers. Then talk it up with your friends. We're the vanguard of the movement.

When weight is moved forward in a dinghy or San Juan 21, the bow goes deeper into the water and raises the stern out of the water. This sounds a bit deceiving, but what you're really doing is DECREASING the amount of wetted surface of the boat thus reducing drag. Less drag allows for more forward motion.

When I find myself in "drifters" I follow three simple rules; keep weight forward, heel to LEEWARD (this will allow the main to have better shape rather than just hanging like a flag) and above all stay still. In drifting conditions it takes a long time for a boat to get momentum and only seconds to lose it all.

It's been said that the best sailors are the ones that can keep their boat moving in light air. I think that is because a true sailor becomes more attuned to his/her immediate environment. I do find that the wind indicator, at the top of the mast, is inneffective in drifters as it needs wind to be activated properly. To find the wind I tend to rely on such things as 1) the tiny micro-waves on the surface of the water (they're smaller than ripples) 2) CATSPAWS (isolated breezes on the water) 3) dust in the air, smoke, leaves, a flag and 4) constantly for darker water which is a sign of wind. Other things that have helped me in the past is by feeling the wind on your face. I have also noticed that a sudden mass of warm air usually means that there is a gentle breeze coming from the land, the land will also bring a scent with it too. (Don't laugh I can smell rain for 1-2 hours before it hits) A lake breeze may bring a sudden mass of cooler air along with it's own distinctive odour. I also keep a watch on cloud formations as they are an excellent indicator for wind. OH YES.....above all keep still while searching for the wind.

posted March 27, 2003 05:56 PM            

We always put the heaviest things (In a Shark that's the motor) as far forward in the lazerette as we can. Light stuff goes behind (empty bucket, bumpers, etc.)

Robert: I would add to your light wind list the ticklers on the jib because they are responding to the wind at the sail. I've also been known to smoke the occasional cigarette on a light day (For wind seeking purposes only). Or simply light a match.

D'Arcy

posted March 31, 2003 10:40 AM            

Sharks have their traveller in the middle of the cockpit so most skippers tend to sit behind it with the crew forward of it. During a light air race we sent one crew below for a nap on the low side bunk while Lynn & I sat on the leeward side forward of the traveller. With everyone sitting very quietly, heeled nicely, we drifted by the whole fleet.

We passed all the thirty footers (who start ahead of us) as their heavey footed crews were clomping around adjusting sails, etc. (Very bad for boat speed)

The centre traveller is a bit of a pain on a Shark as it gets in the way. It would be a lot easier sailing this way on a Sandpiper. The simple action of getting one person approximately a body width further forward can make a great deal of difference in regards to speed.