Post by viv on Nov 29, 2017 9:29:30 GMT -8
(excerpt from Hollywood lap comments - week of Nov.25)
The second point to work on in this week's hotlap is tacking technique.
You now know which angle to the wind is best, but this is not enough for a fast lap. Mastering all these turning maneuvers will definitely shave many seconds off your time!
One key is to turn swiftly: once you start the turn, push through until you are on the right bearing for the next tack.
DO NOT STOP MIDWAY ! Don't even hesitate, as speed keeps dropping as you do your maneuver, sails flapping, the rudder angle slowing you down too...
Once you are out of the turn, focus on sails trim for a good acceleration : it is better to slacken the sheets a bit since speed has dropped during the turn. This is especially true on the Trudeaus.
Then, you need to tighten the sheet back as speed increases and AWA reverts to what it was before the turn.
Stuffs to keep in mind:
- trying to do a longer tack to build up more speed can be a good strategy, especially on slow-to-accelerate boats
- pointing higher (even with lower VMG) could save you a tack, so it is worth considering, but beware about "pinching the boat"
- "pinching the boat" means you are sailing too high causing the boat to stall (all about fluid dynamics and the air flows about the sails). Time to bear away a bit, slackening the sheet as well to prevent a further stall (mostly RL stuff, though)
The second point to work on in this week's hotlap is tacking technique.
You now know which angle to the wind is best, but this is not enough for a fast lap. Mastering all these turning maneuvers will definitely shave many seconds off your time!
One key is to turn swiftly: once you start the turn, push through until you are on the right bearing for the next tack.
DO NOT STOP MIDWAY ! Don't even hesitate, as speed keeps dropping as you do your maneuver, sails flapping, the rudder angle slowing you down too...
Once you are out of the turn, focus on sails trim for a good acceleration : it is better to slacken the sheets a bit since speed has dropped during the turn. This is especially true on the Trudeaus.
Then, you need to tighten the sheet back as speed increases and AWA reverts to what it was before the turn.
Stuffs to keep in mind:
- trying to do a longer tack to build up more speed can be a good strategy, especially on slow-to-accelerate boats
- pointing higher (even with lower VMG) could save you a tack, so it is worth considering, but beware about "pinching the boat"
- "pinching the boat" means you are sailing too high causing the boat to stall (all about fluid dynamics and the air flows about the sails). Time to bear away a bit, slackening the sheet as well to prevent a further stall (mostly RL stuff, though)