windward tell tales

Out the last couple of days in 15 knots. When beating I couldn't get the windward tell tales to stream properly. I had the traveler at midships and the main sheet as tight as I could get it. I noticed that the mast looked to me to be over rotated but I've only sailed my 16 and really have no good reference. Other possibilities might be too old of sail (original equipment circa 1982), not enough downhaul, or ? Help.

Thanks,

Mike

_________________
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.
C. S. Lewis (former atheist)

How were your tell tales flying?

_________________
Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO

At 15 knts you should most likely be double-trapped - otherwise, you'll never get enough wind on the windard side of the sail to get the tell-tales streaming back. With enough weight on the trap, you can steer off the wind a bit more to get the most efficient flow across the sail.

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Tim
Unofficial Fleet 72 Communications Officer and Div 4 Webmaster
http://www.hobiefleet72.org
http://www.div4.hobieclass.com/

In any decent amount of wind, the 16 mast will rotate all the way to the stop.

Downhaul, pull on until the wrinkles are gone.

Have noticed, in 15 and above, many times our telltales are streaming straight up, as we tend to pinch upwind a little and stay on the "safe" side of the gusts.

_________________
hobiejohn at earthlink dot net
Fleet 297

As you heel further over, the tell tales will tend to stream up the sail. [/img]

_________________
Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO

Tell tails were pointing up. I did have my son out on the wire (240#). The tell tails on the jib were fine. Maybe I need to move the jib cars out a bit, they were all the way inboard

_________________
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.
C. S. Lewis (former atheist)

Were the main tell tales flying steadily or were they flapping all over the place?

Actually, where are your tell tales placed?

A very quick primer on using tell tales (Assuming they are placed about 25%-30% of the chord back from the mast on the sail):

-Be more concerned about the leward tell tales than the windward. The separation of flow on the leward side of the sail will cause it to stall (same as on an airplane wing). Keep these tell tales streaming straight back.

-Remember, "When in doubt let it out". Chances are you are pinching (sheeted too tightly or pointed to high). So, you can fall off (turn away from the wind) or sheet out.

-If the windward tell tale is not streaming steadily back (or slightly up and back) sheet in or head up (turn towards the wind).

As I said, this is a VERY basic primer.

I hope this helps.

_________________
Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO

Hobie Nick,

Thanks. This is my 4th sailboat, last one was a 49er skiff.

I'm thinking the jib cars maybe too far inboard. Where is the best location for beating to windward in 15 knots and fairly flat water?

_________________
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.
C. S. Lewis (former atheist)

Are these tell tales on the jib or main?

About the jib travelers... I never raced the H16, so this is from a pleasure sailor. I usually kept them full inboard for upwind and halfway to all the way out for reaching.

One thing to keep in mind is the drastic difference in apparent wind on a cat since they go so much faster than the average mono.

_________________
Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO

Pilot,

Last skiff we had was a Vector, never had a ride on a 49'er but looks like a handfull!

It seems a lot of teams are traveling out the jib car a bit upwind, probably due to extreme mast rake carried these days, keeping the slot open as to not backwind the Main.

Check out the H16 tuning tips here

http://www.hcana.hobieclass.com/default.asp?Page=1686&MenuID=Training/10812/0

_________________
hobiejohn at earthlink dot net
Fleet 297

John Eaton,

Thanks, I think the backwind thing might be the ticket.

The 49er was a HANDFULL. Especially here in the gusty winds we have in the desert. 275# all up weight, 400 SQ ft of just spinnaker. YEHA.... splash.

_________________
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.
C. S. Lewis (former atheist)

Know exactly what you're talking about. Unfortunately, we had that yee-haw, splash, repeat, thing down pretty well. Even as far as to have so much practice righting the boat that I could "scoop" Paul up when righting it so only I would would have to climb back on board.

Enjoy your catamaran.

_________________
hobiejohn at earthlink dot net
Fleet 297