Big Air Solo...AAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEEE--tips on depowering?

Wow, had a blast yesterday in the big and gusty air on the 16 but wonder can it be reefed? I know jib can be furled...(bring money)... But wife doesn't EVEN like this rocket sled and of course I love every second but it would be nice to depower this sled when she is on board. I read a few posts where they said wife got used to it and loved it but mine has a bionic hip and doesn't seem to be coming around to well. Then she gets upset that I spend all afternoon on a thrill ride while she is bored.... Oh my...
The wind picked up yesterday till whitecaps and waves on the lake from the wind. Very narrow lake and lots of gusting and wind directional changes. I love it, just more practice but even with traveler out and sail out and heading extremely upwind the boat was hauling ___!!! Now I love it but how to appease wife?
Thanks for any suggestions you may have. I tried searching for answers, but many irrelevant posts coming up. Enjoy the Wind!
John

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MAN... DO I LOVE THIS HOBIE CAT!!!

My first recommendation would be to study the weather forecast before heading out. That way you can pick a light wind day that won't cause your wife to feel intimidated, at least at the beginning. Try to keep the windspeed below 15mph.

As far as reefing goes, the answer is that it depends. Older boats (made before the mid 1980's) had the ability to be reefed. Once the comptip was introduced, Hobie did away with reefing the mainsail. So if you have an all-aluminum mast, you should be able to reef the mainsail (assuming your sail has reef points). If you have a comptip mast, you can't reef (at least not without some modifications).

You can also sail without the jib if you don't want to invest in a roller furling system.

sm

Thanks for the advice. I have a 1977 so the mast is all aluminum. Not sure what a reef point is though. What would that be? Also, if I sail without the jib could you guess as to a percentage of depowering that would cause?
Thanks,
John

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MAN... DO I LOVE THIS HOBIE CAT!!!

The reef points are the grommets that run across the sail used for reefing. You lower the sail to reefing slug on the main halyard, then tie off the reefing points to the boom to take up the excess sail material.

As an estimate, running without the jib would probably be around a 25% reduction in power. Plus there is the advantage of only having to handle one sail. The disadvantage is that tacking the boat will be more difficult (but certainly not impossible) and you may end up with a little more weather helm.

sm

First, change your name from FLIPIT to ALWAYSBALANCED or something...

I've found that I can make my 16 fairly controlable over 20knots solo by doing a few things.

First, no batten tension, just tie the battens in so the don't fall out.

Second, I run the jib halyard a lot looser than normal, which is pretty snug. The only downside of doing this is it tends to make the 16 slightly more pitchpole happy, as the mast falls off to the side, but also a bit forward too. Just keep your weight back and pop the main when the hull starts to go under.

Third, downhaul the crap outta the main. A flat sail is more controllable in heavy air.

Last is more mast rake. I'm not sure if you have the older style 5-1 main blocks, but the further back the mast is raked, the more depowered the boat will be.

Hope this helps!

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Blair T

I love these calm moments before the storm, it reminds me of Beethoven...


'02 Hobie Tiger USA 1152

Thanks for the tips! I will try them. I am surprised that more mast rake depowers the boat. Only since the new ones have so much. I am going to break down and buy a book on rigging and all the tips that I need to know as there seem to be ALOT! Any suggestions on which book to buy?
Thanks again,
John

PS... and for the fellow that suggested changing my name I am looking foward to that but not until I am more balanced or something...ha.

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MAN... DO I LOVE THIS HOBIE CAT!!!

I would advise against using "no batten tension". You want to tension the battens so that you're taking the wrinkles out of the batten pocket and then pull just a little more. If you run less then this, you run the risk of having the batten slide back and poke a hole through your sail.

Batten tension is really not an effective way of controlling mainsail power. Mainsheet, traveler, downhaul, and jib halyard tension (on the 16) are the primary controls.

sm

I don't mean "no" batten tension, just snug em up a bit, without inducing a batten curve.

I've had sails damaged by battens falling out and ripping the pocket while luffing on heavy air, it's a downer! Just keep em secure and worry about the rest of the boat!

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Blair T

I love these calm moments before the storm, it reminds me of Beethoven...


'02 Hobie Tiger USA 1152

Bad battens however do cause a loss of mainsail depowering. If you have a droopy sail shape, with oversize pocket, then no way are you going to get a flat sail. Old battens make saggy sails. Flat sails good in high winds. Baggy sails, not good. Ugh.

Many recommend loose battens for flatter sail. Just the end should not come out of the pocket protector.

Don't know any excellent books for rigging, really.

How about DVD's? (Ah, Matt has on the 16, right? Where is it?)

B 4 U buy a book check out the free downloads at http://www.hobieclass.com/default.asp?Page=1686

WOW! Thanks for the link to the Hobie Downloads... Now there is all the info I so desperately needed. There are an amazing number of adjustments for sailing. I am surprised at all of them. Since I am just a weekend thrill seeker, I am looking for nothing but fun. No class racing necessary. Thanks again for the hint. No book necessary now!
Hooked On Sailing,
John

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MAN... DO I LOVE THIS HOBIE CAT!!!

You are most welcome. Happy sailing and keep your tips up.