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 Post subject: Better pointing
PostPosted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 7:46 pm 
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Joined: Thu Jun 03, 2010 7:13 pm
Posts: 188
Location: Charleston, SC
What are some tips for improving my ability to point higher in low to medium wind? I have a newer jib, my main is fair but not very crisp. I wonder if that hurts me or if there is something else I can do.

For example, I have sailed with a guy with a square top and he can sail several degrees higher than I can. Rake? Weight more forward?

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 Post subject: Re: Better pointing
PostPosted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 8:16 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jul 25, 2009 11:19 pm
Posts: 340
Location: San Diego
Mast rake can really help pointing ability. Also making sure the daggers are all the way down and sheets are tight.

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ALLEY CAT 1984 RED LINE HOBIE 18 MAGNUM
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 Post subject: Re: Better pointing
PostPosted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 7:36 am 
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Joined: Mon May 09, 2005 10:25 am
Posts: 4176
Location: Jersey Shore
Time on the water and practice. Not the answer most people want to hear, but squeezing the last degree or two of angle or anther tenth of a knot is mostly technique. Knowing by feel when the boat is moving well or when you need to make a small adjustment mostly comes from experience. Practicing or racing with others that are going well is the quickest way to get up to speed.

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 Post subject: Re: Better pointing
PostPosted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:44 am 
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Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2007 10:46 am
Posts: 1054
Location: eureka,california
Weight placement on the boat is also big on pointing. the further forward you are the higher you can point once the boat is moving. Get the boat going before you try to start pointing. Go fast then gradually point up. If you start to stall foot back off.

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 Post subject: Re: Better pointing
PostPosted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:50 am 
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Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2007 4:21 pm
Posts: 192
Location: Chilliwack, BC
Weight together, forward, slight leward heel. Waterline on the leward bow should be no more than 3/4 up the bow .... getting windward sterns out of the water...
Be careful on sheeting too hard in light airs... its easy to do... on both main and jib. sometimes cracking the sheets off 1/2" makes a big difference. \you have to allow the sail to have some shape if there is not enough wind to create it.
gentle movements around the boat.. don't be bouncing about like a herd of elephants... easy on the steering... soft movements.
and as rich says, keep the boat moving... hull speed.... practice...
It's actually harder sailing light airs than heavy airs...


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 Post subject: Re: Better pointing
PostPosted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:45 pm 
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Joined: Mon Sep 12, 2011 7:28 pm
Posts: 265
Location: BC, Canada
Use your tell-tails! Also, you need some sort of a wind indicator. I just use a piece of cassette tape on my shroud wires.

I have 18 tell-tails on my main and watch and make adjustments every 30 seconds or so. If you have a good number of these, you will be surprised how sensitive your sails are to your adjustments.

Here is a good guide on tell-tails:

http://www.thebeachcats.com/news/66/catamaran-sailing-understanding-your-telltales?Article66.html

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 Post subject: Re: Better pointing
PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 10:32 pm 
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Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2011 9:33 pm
Posts: 30
Learning to read the sail tell tales over bridle tell tales is huge. If you don't have your sails set right, you could be pointing the boat in the right direction, but not getting any power to the sails to move you. Like everyone else is saying... practice is king.


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