My first two sail trials with the Mistral 16 this week at Brome lake
Jules
I did my first two sailboat riding this week . The first one was quiet
with a 5 knots wind but it was good for me in order to have a better
feeling of the boat stability and to do a good ''dry run'' like.
The second one was a bit harder with a 15 to 20 knots wind and I was
alone on the sailboat.
It was pretty hard to put the sails up while trying to keep the boat
in a good position and prevent capsizing.
I finally made it after putting back the mailsail rope in their
pulleys ... in a kind of panic mode...
Then I found how fun is that boat . It is reacting quickly to wind and
to weight balance as well as rudder directions changes. Even though
the wind was not always stable , I was able to run it to the near
limit without capsizing .
I tried many direction changes with wind from the back and had some
difficulties doing direction change when wind in the front of the
boat. The boat tend to stop even with high speed . I though I did not
change the rudder direction quick enough . I am not sure . The boat go
back in the same direction and I had to try again.
If anyone have some clues about it , please feel free to give me some
advise .
Next trial will be with an helper . It should be easier !
Albert Rietema
You probably did change the rudder too quickly. Every time you change the
rudder position, this results in a drag (due to imbalance) and the boat has
to find balance back (by turning). If you move the rudder too fast and too
far, the result of this imbalance is that the boats starts to stall. Then
you'll end up in irons (straight into the wind, no speed, no control).
If you're sailing with the jib, then leave it in position (assuming you
first attempt sailing close hauled (as far as you can into the wind. About
45 degrees off actual wind) until after the wind grabs it from the wrong
side (now you are straight into the wind), as this will help pushing the bow
through the eye of the wind. Also let the boat come close to beam reach (90
degrees on the actual wind) after the tack before attempting to sail clause
hauled again (if case you try to go upwind).
It is a bit hard to explain all by writing how to tack and there is a big
part of your own experience that comes into play as well.
Most important is to get some cheap old sailing book or some documentation
from online. There is much to learn this way and it is very helpful.
Fair winds and good sailing!
Albert.
Ps: Currently looking for a stable and easy catamaran like Hobie Getaway.
Harder to tack, but hopefully allows me to get my windsurfing feeling back
(when using harness) and allow my wife to join me!
Jules
I beleive you are right . I read that I must keep the rudder at an
angle approximatly of 30 to 45 degrees from
the central line then put it back right after the direction change. I
was probably turning it too quickly and with a too high
angle . Yes I sail with jib . I kept it pretty tight and centered .
Somebody told me I should slack it a little bit to let
the aire go out more easily .
I will try your advise first and give you some feedback .
My brother use to sail an Hobicat catamaran on Champlain lake but I am
not sure if it was a getaway or not .
I heard it was harder to tack also. This is another level of feeling !
My wife would probably not follow me on such
a boat ... Good luck in finding it !
>
> - Show quoted text -
William Smith
ps. I do have several sailboats for sale if you know anyone interested: a Hobie Holder 14, a Mistral 16 and a Hobie 16.
From: Jules <jules_...@videotron.ca>
To: Sailing Mistral <Sailing...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Mon, June 7, 2010 4:11:22 PM
Subject: Re: My first two sail trials with the Mistral 16 this week at Brome lake
Albert Rietema
Subject: Re: My first two sail trials with the Mistral 16 this week at Brome lake