Stalling

Have followed your forum for a year now and thought it was time to come on board, if I may.
I am up to my 2nd Hobie (2002 Ex Worlds) and have recently put the #2 son out on a trapeze. So we're on a reach and the speed and wind angle are optimum, the kid goes out and I sheet in, with traveller in the middle, the boat flies on one hull and the speed drops - that is, no spray off the hull- and the boat almost comes to a halt or at least half speed. It drops down to the water as I sheet out and the speed picks up and we try again. What am I doing wrong?

Geoff

Maybe weight too far forward.

Possibly over-sheeting. Do you use the tell tails?

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Geoff,

When you fly a hull, the higher you go the slower the boat will go because the sail is spilling air. They say the fastest way to sail is when the leeward hull is just out of the water. The drag is reduced but the sail isn't spilling air.

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Howard

Thanks. The tell tales are good but yeah we're probably trying for too much air - rudder just touching the water. I'll move the weight back although it felt like the thing was in trim. The hull doesn't seem to bury too much. Let the traveller out?

Geoff

hrtsailor nailed it! Yep, flying too high and dumping the power. As noted, fastest is having the weather hull just kiss the surface.

If you have to sheet out to stop from flying too high, travel down a bit. Maybe half the distance to the hiking strap or adjust so you can sheet harder for power while keeping the hull flying.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

I meant the windward hull should just be out of the water, not leeward. Sorry.

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Howard