The downhaul is huge in the 20. Div 3 guys would attest to this as our crews all effect the downhaul to adjust for the puffs.
We effectively use it to bend off the top of the mast and spill the wind out of the top of the sail. This moves the center of effort lower in the sail and flattens the boat out.
The last and least depowering option is easing the main sheet unless in extreme situations. This is more multiple reasons.
1. It releases the tension on your forestay which affects your pointing ability.
2. It creates a larger wing (main sail) which creates more drag.
3. Moves your whole rig forward.
4. It takes longer to recover the speed you just gave away.
In big winds my first options are:
1. Ease the traveler out 3- 4- 5 inches. This keeps the rig tight and keeps the jib shapely (boat will continue to point)
2. Move the jib cars out. (Open the slot)
3. Increase the bend in the mast with prebend on the beach. (only if you know it's howling because I don't like giving power away before I leave the beach)
4. Manage puffs with downhaul and pointing up.
5. Ease sheet
If you are in a race condition it is important to keep the boat flat. I was second in this weeks Hobie 20 Regatta in Monterey (8 boats) and the guy that beat me never lifted his hull out of the water. Winds were 8-17 knots all three days. The key to being fast on these boats is your ability to depower the boat effectively without big swings in rig shape...... The downhaul is a big part of that. Flat flat flat.........
Hammond wrote:
Make sure your mast track is clean, then lubricated with dry silicone or something similar. Next make sure you are not maxed out on the outhaul. A small amount of dirt/salt on the mast or bolt rope will stop the entire system from moving. Also note, if you are sheeted in hard the sheet alone will keep the tack down when you release the downhaul.
+1
srm wrote:
The advantage of using the downhaul to manage puffs is that tightening the downhaul bends the mast which flattens the sail and causes the top the twist open. This reduces drag and lowers the CE of the rig which allows the boat to sail flatter and faster. Easing the mainsheet has the opposite effect - it straightens the mast which makes the rig fuller and causes more drag. You have to dump a lot of sheet to get the boat to depower and you lose your upwind pointing angle.
Perfectly stated srm!