Ellen MacArthur

[jonjo]

Re: Tracey - how did she do it

> it's the opposition of the rudder and weather helm that makes a boat go forward

Hmm Perhaps she meant if the rudder is not fighting weather helm then the yacht goes faster.

In defence of Ms. Edwards I think she was a good shaker and mover. At least at sea she knew her limits and delegated to the more experienced watch leaders, but who called the shots in a panic?

 

[corkonian1]

Re: Tracey - how did she do it

Postcard to Ellen
I am sick to death of celebrity sailors.
Ellen - Get a life, get a job even but most of all get a new hairstyle... harrump

 

[TheBoatman]

Re: Tracey - how did she do it

I wont even go into a reply to your post,,,just to say,,,I think its you that should get a life.

 

[Grehan]

Ellen

So easy to make cheap gibes, isn't it?

BTW
What exactly IS a cheap gibe? (jibe, gybe, whatever . . )

Do you? . . . Mr Jones

 

[chuns]

Thanks, all of you...

...now I understand too.

 

[Guest]

One more thing Graeme

No, 2 more things.

1. I take what you say about it being faster to sail a course with a series of gybes - but I don't think its all of the story with these vessels - I think there's still something in my own theory. I was reading some more of Pete Goss' book last night and he clearly talks about "running", "trying and failing to get the spinnaker up - too much wind", and then "poling out the foresail" (I precis). Once this was done the "boat took off - bouncing from wave to wave". So under these circumstances he'd have the boom right out one side (with no kicker and a baggy sail) and the foresail pole out the other - but - behaving quite erratically due to the speed and sea state.

2. Therefore a boom angled up at such a rake would stop it dragging in the water when the boat heeled to leeward somewhat uncontrollably - possibly causing a broach or at least something very uncomforable and a distinct loss of speed.

Whadayathink

Geoff

 

[Twister_Ken]

I like it

your theory about an upward pointing boom to stop it dragging on a roll. Nice one!

 

[Guest]

Yeah but

What does Greame think eh!

Thanks Ken

Geoff

 

[Jacket]

Re: One more thing Graeme

I'd forgotten about Goss's comments. I'd always thought that these boats sailed a series of gybes, based on a number of assumptions:

i) Fast sailing dinghies and asymetric keelboats are fastest gybing downwind in all conditions (though the angle at which you gybe changes alot as the wind strength changes).

ii) All the latest boats have fixed bowsprits for their asymetrics, which mean the sails can only be set when the apparent winds from the beam, not from dead behind.

iii)the shrouds are raked so far aft that you can't ease the boom much more than 50 degrees from the centreline.

iv)You never see pictures of Open 60's running, only reaching.

I guess there are two points:

i) In really extreem conditions, when the wind is up to say twice maximum boat speed, maybe it is faster to head off dead down wind?

ii) As I understand it, Goss's boat was a very unconventional design (blunt bow ect). Maybe it was optimised for running? Dunno. One thing to notice is that Goss's boat (what was it called? BMW?) had spinnacker poles, so he could pole out his genoa or fly a conventional spinnacker. None of the other boats seem to have poles, which probably means they'd have difficulties sailing wing and wing on a run as the genoa would keep collapsing?

If Goss's boat was behaving erratically, maybe it was due to his lack of kicker? (Similar to easing the kicker on a dinghy during a heavy airs run, which is a sure way to end up swimming!)

 

[corkonian1]

Re: Tracey - how did she do it

Its a deal, I will get a life if you will get a sense of humour

 

[Twister_Ken]

Ellen\'s Vang

There a nice pic of Kingfisher at http://www.kingfisher-challenges.com/siteimages/large/1565low_rt.jpg
which doesn't show any kicker, nor is it apparent how one could be rigged.