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 Post subject: Beating in chop
PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2021 2:41 pm 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2005 10:13 am
Posts: 1184
Location: Nepean S.C. Ottawa, Canada
My body can still feel the effects of this past weekend's regatta.
While we were the slowest boat, this was a handicap event, so I felt we stood a chance of winning a coffee mug.
No such luck.
We were beaten by an F18, a NACRA 570 and an A-Cat.
They sailed up to their potential.
The F16 capsizes and pitchpoles were a thing of beauty.
We stayed upright.

My son and I were fine on the downwind legs, in fact, we did well.
It was the upwind, in 12 knots NW gusting 18 - 20, with very short (and hard) lake chop.
Every time we cracked off, we came close to being blown over in gusty conditions and capsizing, so we had to pinch quite a bit, even though we had one of us out on the wire.
So it became a question of speed vs stability.

Any thoughts how to improve our upwind speed?
One suggestion was two on the wire.....
Should we have loosened the main traveler by 4"?

TY

_________________
2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'


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 Post subject: Re: Beating in chop
PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 7:10 am 
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Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:09 am
Posts: 109
Location: Spring Lake, NJ
I don’t race (yet) but do have a lot of experience with serious chop, high winds, and close hauled. If it’s gusty, you’ll lose more time with a capsize, so pinching isn’t a bad idea. The H16 can only do so much in those conditions because of its design that doesn’t have as floatation up front as more modern boats (but that is why it’s so awesome). Traveling out a bit more give you some extra “leeway” when a gust hits but costs in speed. The H16 has a LOT of sail for its size/weight and when it gets big time gusty, you’re gonna need to be quick to avoid getting blown over. You can double trap which will also keep the boat flatter, but if it’s gusty, when the gust stops you’ll need to be quick to come back aboard before you pull the boat on top of you. And big chop can sometimes knock the skipper off the back. Don’t ask how I know…

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H16 2002 "Islands" Sail No. 107432


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 Post subject: Re: Beating in chop
PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 10:18 am 
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Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 12:44 pm
Posts: 15027
Location: Oceanside, California
Yes, double trap, if possible. Keep your weight aft, bows up rudders deep. Crack the main traveler far enough you can fully sheet. You can also travel the jib out a bit and sheet.

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
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Hobie Cat USA
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 Post subject: Re: Beating in chop
PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 10:30 am 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Mon May 09, 2005 10:25 am
Posts: 4176
Location: Jersey Shore
If you’re only single trapping in double-trap conditions, that’s pretty much always going to put you at a disadvantage. If the wind is up and down a lot, be sure to keep your head out of the boat to anticipate the puffs and lulls to be prepared for them in advance. The crew can jump in the boat in the lulls if needed, the skipper stays out to focus on steering.

Pinching constantly in steep chop will kill you. You need to bear off slightly to maintain speed. Step back on the boat to keep from burying the bow. Increase downhaul first, then travel out if needed to maintain trim.

sm


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 Post subject: Re: Beating in chop
PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 10:50 am 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2005 10:13 am
Posts: 1184
Location: Nepean S.C. Ottawa, Canada
Thank you all for your excellent advice.
We'll try tomorrow during our Weds evening Club racing - forecast says WNW 8 K gusting 13 K.

Prior to last weekend's regatta, we had some excellent coaching from local A-Cat sailor David Bradly.
That is for another post....

later

_________________
2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'


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