HAPPY MELBOURNE CUP DAY

HAPPY MELBOURNE CUP DAY
We advertise it in Victoria Australia as 'The Race that Stops a Nation'. The race known as the Melbourne Cup attracts entries from around this great world of ours. Most of us get a holiday to celebrate with many either heading off to Flemington Racecourse or settling in to watch the race on the box.
Well several months back I had my personalised tramps/skirts built for the AI but winter ensued and I got busy and I never did really get a chance to try them out.....until now. Check the weather:
Forecast for Tuesday until midnight
Winds: Westerly 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to 20 knots during the morning then increasing to 20 to 30 knots around midday then decreasing to 15 to 20 knots later in the evening.
It could be a real chance to try them out as I have the day free and it is a warm day here being about 30 celsius. Unfortunately it is just beginning to rain and really looks like more coming so all the plans for the day are on-hold at the minute. I really hope the day pans out the way I envisage it should. Anyway have a happy Melbourne Cup my AI family...........Pirate

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Master of the galleon 'Pirates Lot'

Sounds good. Rermember didn't happen without pics

I've got to sort out a spray shield for the bow to sort out the chop from the stink boats.
At least the water temperature in the Parramatta river is 23 deg C.

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Well the weather certainly turned it on more than sufficient for a full test of the Adventure Island with the tramps/skirts today . And yes Cowsgomoo I did get some footage to prove it did happen.
My first problem was the AI blew off the car after I had arrived at the launching area and removed the straps. No damage to boat but did swipe the passenger side mirror on its way to the ground which will need a little attention tomorrow but no big deal. The weather was thirty to forty knots out there which in the Gippsland Lakes kicks up quite a nasty sea as it would on almost any body of water. I really shouldn't have gone out as it was break-gear weather but I really did have to give them a decent test. My first I have got to say that the tramps were excellent at keeping me dry, and with one proviso I deem them to be a great success.
Here is the video I was able to grab amongst the wind and waves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5vOLEVnU40
The proviso is that the tramps really collect the wind and there were several instances that I could have flipped it over. Actually I did but only once. At the time I was under bare pole so it was all the work of the tramps. I gust of about 40 knots came through and it flipped over in a flash. I have never had the experience before and had to first release one tramp, then fold and capture the aka then bear weight on the collapsed tramp to right the rig. Success but with a degree of luck. Just as soon as it was righted the and with me underneath, the rig took off with the wind under bare poles. Fortunately for me, the end of the main was there to be grabbed or I would still be swimming. Fortunately the water was warm.
Lessons learnt:
1. The tramps work very well at preventing wave and spray from getting me soaked as long as I stay out of the water.
2. In particularly windy weather they are prone to causing the AI to capsize.
3. If it does go over, ensure you have a rope firmly in your hand before righting the rig for fear of it getting away from you.
4. Always secure possessions with lanyards as a capsize may cause you to get permanently separated from them. Fortunately for me I did secure my camera with a lanyard and even though it was in a side-pocket it was dangling under the water. at the end of the lanyard when I righted the rig. Same goes for wheels.
5. There is really not much fun in going out and subjecting yourself in extreme conditions, excepting for a trial such as this.
6. The redundant nylon bolt that secures the aka brace really does break so saving gear breakage.
7. The rudder pin was up to the job on this occasion though I will inspect it this week.
8. Take time to select a good quiet protected spot to remove the AI from the roof racks in very windy weather or it may blow off the roof and cause damage.
All in all a great day, lots of fun, lots of adventure and home safe and sound .....Pirate

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Master of the galleon 'Pirates Lot'

Wow Pirate, what a stalwart to go out in those winds to test on our behalf

MM

Gotta hand it to you Pirate, you gave your all for the team!

I reckon we can draw some valuable lessons from your experience:
1. If the wind blows the boat off the roofrack, you're in for an interesting day.
2. Mad dogs and Victorians go out in 40 knots
3. Even a half-width tramp carries a serious risk of flipping the boat in high winds. Accordingly, it's probably best not to deploy the tramps in these conditions. But, these are the very conditions where a sprayshield is most needed. So, it may be best if the sprayshield and the tramp are kept separate, so they can be used independently. I imagine it would not be difficult to modify your tramps by removing the sprayshield section and adding a triangular panel to convert them to "Conlon" style shields.

I must admit, I'm surprised. I thought the narrower tramps would be much less likely to flip.

Thanks for sharing. Your report makes great reading .

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The windage is a killer! I was really surprised by the way the AI reacts to the wind even with the sail furled. Also the difference it made taking the mast down when wheeling it across the beach. The mast with the sail furled around it is still a big area for the wind to get to grips with.

Sounds like you had a fun day Pirate! The spray shields works well. I wonder if it would be feasible to fit angled louvres in the tramps so the spray coming from the front doesn't get through, but wind from the side and behind can? As the AI doesn't point very high, you are not often going to get the wind from probably more than 20 degrees either side of dead into the wind, so you can have a fixed face from the front.

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Either lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way!

Great report with valuable experience gained Pirate.
If you're not out on the mesh can they really be called trampolines?
Aren't they really just big sprayshields or even extra sails which of course will catch the wind?
To me the idea of a tramp is that you actually get out on it on the windward side and counterbalance the effect of the wind.
If you had done that do you think you would still have capsized? I realise this is difficult especially in those conditions and with limited tiller control but isn't that what tramps are all about?
I have just bought the Hobie tramps and can't wait to try them out (though not in those conditions! )
My thoughts are that if the wind does pick up then unless I can hike out on them I will be rolling them up!
Thanks for posting.
PS-I was pleased to see you have 2 legs. For some reason I have always imagined you with a peg leg- made of wood of course!

They're not even sprayshields, at least not the conventional trampolines. Nearly all the spray comes over the bow, not the beam. For a lot of people, they seem to be mainly a luggage rack. When you hike out on a keel boat or a cat, you use a trapeze. Only on a trimaran, do you effectively have a sail out on the windward side of the boat, which would seem to more than negate any benefit from shifting your weight out, especially if you have to stay near enough into the hull to operate the rudder. That said, sitting out on the tramp, in a moderate breeze, with the wind in your face is a buzz (I've got a tiller extension).

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Interesting stuff and experience we can all take something from guys .
Chris, You are right in suggesting it takes a certain type of madness to go out is such conditions, and I don't recommend it to to others.
My tramps are just more than half width and with the extra spray-shield out front probably equates to the full size of the Hobie tramps. I will concider reducing them down even further but another alternative in a strong blow for me is to simply secure the folded tramps onto the front aka and sail with the front spray skirts alone.
Yes I agree if the AI blows off the racks before you get a chance of getting it down in a gentlemanly fashion, it would be wise to lick the wounds and tie it back on and go on home.
I was very impressed by the 'pirate pilows' action in the very very strong winds on the way down and back to the water. There is a bit of give in the foam rubber and allows a bit of give and take when the gusts come through without puting too much strain on anything without the need to tie the bow and stern down also. I believe are definately the complete answer to carrying the AI on roof racks. (Good idea to use quality racks also as I am sure there was a lot of load on the racks.) Incidentally had the hull been carried inverted when it was blown off, major damage would have been done to the car with the cross-braces.

Stringy I was thinking of getting out on the windward tramp which would have stopped the rig capsizing for certain. I would have done that but had decided to go bare pole and peddle myself into a bit closer before continuing to sail. I was not expecting a capsize whilst under bare pole. But it was then that the wind got under the windward tramp and it was so quick there was nothing I could do but go for a swim under the hull. The action that flips the hull over is wave action on the beam that pushes the windward ama upward whilst the leeward ama down which then allows the wind to get under the windward tramp and do its worst. Probably next time knowing what I know now, I will major reef the sail and get out there on the tramp. By the way it was great first-hand experience in getting the boat back up the right way under such trying conditions. Incidentally it was no easy task. The trick there is to fold in the leaward ama, AND SECURE IT, before standing on it. If not it simply wants to pivot back out again making the manouvre impossible. The tramps are a hinderance at this stage as it is necessary to release it from the rear aka to allow the pivot to happen. Mind you the windward tramp helped as it got the wind as it was lifted off the water helping the righting motion.
Anyway the tramps themselves did everything they were expected to do...AND MORE!!!!
Now I gotta go out and try to fix my rear-view mirror that took a pounding when the AI blew off the racks.....Pirate

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Master of the galleon 'Pirates Lot'

Wow!

Was that one of your more successful testing sessions?

Well, the tramps really didn't keep you dry, did they?!

I know you're not a daggerboard type guy, but did you have your daggerboard in when you flipped? If you did, the flip should have been in slow motion, with time to hike out if you realized what was happening. If not, then maybe you'll consider it next time.

I wouldn't think of going out in that weather without every bit of help on my side, like the daggerboard in and down and a surfboard leash!

At least you self rescued and returned for us to pick on some more.

They may not keep you in the boat, but they DO look good!

Kayaking Bob

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

Bob, I don't think the daggerboard would make much difference. When the AI heels over due to the wind in the sail, the pivot point is the hull and the daggerboard resists the rotation, but when the wind gets under the tramp, the pivot point becomes the leeward ama, so the daggerboard would just be lifted out of the water with the rest of the hull.

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My - you did have an adventurous day Pirate
While I was sipping bubbly, strawberries and smoked salmon etc
I even picked Shocking as one of my favourites - now if only I'd put some money on him
Great little video you put together so quickly.
I can't say I'm suprised they catch so much wind in the sort of conditions you were out in - personally I think the dodger helps keep the cockpit dry and would probably work quite well in conjunction with the Conlon skirts. Has the added advantage of helping to protect you from fierce sun and wind.
I agree with Chris - the tramps are more of an extra storage area than spray shields. However, if we modified the way we sail the AI and sat out to windward in the same fashion as hobie (& other) catamaran sailors do, it would be a different story. Do you want to give it a go - I think I'll just stay in the cockpit
Thanks for your diligent testing - we'll all benefit from it
Hey - maybe you could be an AI Beta tester

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Mickey
2016 AI Hibiscus
purchased NEW Nov 2021 - My 5th
Adventure Island Sailing since 2008

I haven't run with the Hobie tramps yet, but have been out with someone who did a couple of times and I think the daggerboard helps S-L-O-W most changes to the AI in bigger wind and waves.

Let's see what that buccaneer has to say. (Plus, I couldn't think what else to pick on him with)

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

Good on ya mate....and I thought of you as a friend.
You are spot on that I did not have the dagger-board with me. I was expecting so broad reaching sailing and I had used the board's lanyard for something else. I agree with Chris that it probably would not have made any difference. The power of the wind was such that it was going over and I don't believe there would have been time to react by getting out of the cockpit onto the tramps.
I will explore the concept of a tiller extension with a view to getting out on the tramp in the future which I am sure would be a fun way to sail on these things.
As far as the day went I had a most enjoyable and youthful adventure. Took me back years when I used to sail Lasers, Windsurfers and an assortment of small craft and wouldn't have missed it for anything including your Sardines and Spumante that you were scoffing down like the toff you are Mickey
The idea of getting back to the Dodger is also appealing Mike so maybe we could velcro ours to the decks to prevent it from pumping the water through which appears one of its problems when the waves are up. Anyway I gotta go pay some bills and plan another adventure in paradise.....Pirate

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Master of the galleon 'Pirates Lot'

Oh a pirate must have thicker skin than this

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006