How to loose a race!

[onesea]

I'm not; it was a dreadful waste of a few minutes of my life. If the chap whose video this is could please take one of two tips;

What ever....

Its about fun not winning.... I love the way a "small" mistake can be so significant, we have all done it...
My two tips:
1) Return boat to mooring, who ever put the sheets on the clews on the kite (IMHO the sheets where crossed kite was not twisted, does not matter it went up in manner that was less than desirable) should buy arch rival a drink congratulate him.
2) Place a beer fine on who ever stuffs up the next spinnaker hoist

I know it was generally a bad day but more serious tips:
1) I normally bring windward clue to pole before hoisting if not whilst hoisting by pulling on guy before pulling on sheet, it helps clear any hidden twists. I also do not pull on sheet until halyard is home and secured.
2) When hoisting can you put a fender cleat or cam cleat on the mast so mast man can secure temporally if helm cannot tail the halyard from the cockpit.
3) You know that crew you had the previous week, if you can get one of them back and teach them the ropes in the cockpit you would have been much better off
4) Sense of humour failure is not allowed

 

[Redshank Evo26]

I'm not; it was a dreadful waste of a few minutes of my life. If the chap whose video this is could please take one of two tips;

1: Return boat to mooring. Place ad for boat on Apolloduck. Sell boat & polish average car for the rest of your life.
2: Spend a few pounds on some racing & tactician lessons for you and your crew. You and your crew need to prep & put that spinnaker up and down properly at least 50 times before you race again. Then realise you can actually do it better after the practice.

I look forward to your video of 50 consecutive prefect hoists!

 

[Lakesailor]

I'm not; it was a dreadful waste of a few minutes of my life. If the chap whose video this is could please take one of two tips;

1: Return boat to mooring. Place ad for boat on Apolloduck. Sell boat & polish average car for the rest of your life.
2: Spend a few pounds on some racing & tactician lessons for you and your crew. You and your crew need to prep & put that spinnaker up and down properly at least 50 times before you race again. Then realise you can actually do it better after the practice.

It's a bit of fun. Is it your contention that unless you approach everything in life with earnest intent you shouldn't do it?

 

[bigwow]

whoever packed the kite needs to buy the beers imho.

I didn't know you had to "pack the kite" I thought it was just stuffed in the bag.

 

[Redshank Evo26]

What ever....

Its about fun not winning.... I love the way a "small" mistake can be so significant, we have all done it...
My two tips:
1) Return boat to mooring, who ever put the sheets on the clews on the kite (IMHO the sheets where crossed kite was not twisted, does not matter it went up in manner that was less than desirable) should buy arch rival a drink congratulate him.
2) Place a beer fine on who ever stuffs up the next spinnaker hoist

I know it was generally a bad day but more serious tips:
1) I normally bring windward clue to pole before hoisting if not whilst hoisting by pulling on guy before pulling on sheet, it helps clear any hidden twists. I also do not pull on sheet until halyard is home and secured.
2) When hoisting can you put a fender cleat or cam cleat on the mast so mast man can secure temporally if helm cannot tail the halyard from the cockpit.
3) You know that crew you had the previous week, if you can get one of them back and teach them the ropes in the cockpit you would have been much better off
4) Sense of humour failure is not allowed

I bought 3 cam cleats yesterday at a boat jumble, one for pole up, one for temporary halliard and the other to back up the main haliard clutch which is worn and prone to slip. I am going to try a cat cradle of bungy over the anchor well to stop spinnaker sheets and roller furling lines getting caught on the bow cleats, also need to do something similar with the bow Bi Colour as that sticks down providing a perfect place for snags.

Hopefully we will have some crew back next week! Its not the easiest boat to sail efficiently with two as whoever is on the helm cant reach anything on the back of the coach roof without letting go of the tiller, and it does not track straight for more that a couple of seconds.

Dancer were pleased with their win anyway they wouldn't have been out there if I hadn't lean't them an outboard for their dinghy, so I can assure you its all very friendly.

Its all a bit of fun, including posting a video of such a c**k up!

Happy sailing!!

 

[Redshank Evo26]

I bought 3 cam cleats yesterday at a boat jumble, one for pole up, one for temporary halliard and the other to back up the main haliard clutch which is worn and prone to slip. I am going to try a cat cradle of bungy over the anchor well to stop spinnaker sheets and roller furling lines getting caught on the bow cleats, also need to do something similar with the bow Bi Colour as that sticks down providing a perfect place for snags.

Hopefully we will have some crew back next week! Its not the easiest boat to sail efficiently with two as whoever is on the helm cant reach anything on the back of the coach roof without letting go of the tiller, and it does not track straight for more that a couple of seconds.

Dancer were pleased with their win anyway they wouldn't have been out there if I hadn't lean't them an outboard for their dinghy, so I can assure you its all very friendly.

Its all a bit of fun, including posting a video of such a c**k up!

Happy sailing!!

Well I can report that this was the worst cockup by far this season! We did ok at Torbay week, our local bigish regatta, came 2nd in our class, beaten by a Folk Boat apparently being assisted by dark forces, or maybe just sailed VERY well! Its our last race on Wednesday Evening, so I shall try to remember to take the camera and get a season closer video. This may be the last Redshank video as she is up for sale.

 

[Racecruiser]

If I may (and we've all made mistakes so it's well meant).

In those light conditions you need to keep the boat going to windward up to the last moment before the mark so minimum people movement with sails set for 'light', c10 degrees of leeward heel and max helm concentration. If the tide was against then a touch of over-standing so that you are a bit wide into the mark and close out. Hopefully the crew can tiptoe around getting the kite and pole ready so when you are level with the mark you can hoist with the guy coming back first.

As someone else has said a halyard cleat on the mast is handy 2-up so the helm doesn't have to tail while adjusting guy/sheet and steering with tiller between the legs. It looks like the spinny sheet cleats are pointing the wrong way for easy cleating?

Keep at it! Must admit I haven't done any 2-up racing for a while.

 

[Redshank Evo26]

If I may (and we've all made mistakes so it's well meant).

In those light conditions you need to keep the boat going to windward up to the last moment before the mark so minimum people movement with sails set for 'light', c10 degrees of leeward heel and max helm concentration. If the tide was against then a touch of over-standing so that you are a bit wide into the mark and close out. Hopefully the crew can tiptoe around getting the kite and pole ready so when you are level with the mark you can hoist with the guy coming back first.

As someone else has said a halyard cleat on the mast is handy 2-up so the helm doesn't have to tail while adjusting guy/sheet and steering with tiller between the legs. It looks like the spinny sheet cleats are pointing the wrong way for easy cleating?

Keep at it! Must admit I haven't done any 2-up racing for a while.

Thanks racecruiser, to be fair it was early season and the first two handed hoist of the year. Why I havent got the tail of the halliard, or the sheet and guy to hand I have no idea at all! The problem is I cant reach the back of the coach roof and steer at the same time.

Anyway, it all went much better as the season progressed.

 

[TSB240]

If you are sailing short handed is there a reason why you can't use a tiller pilot to help?

It would at least keep the boat tracking in the right direction once set!

It frees the helm up to take over the hoist and allows the foredeck gorilla to get the kite pole set as you hoist. Helm only has to gather in the sheet to get the kite pulling and hand over to FDG.

Tiller pilot probably cheaper to run than an an extra crew and they don't talk back to you!

 

[Redshank Evo26]

If you are sailing short handed is there a reason why you can't use a tiller pilot to help?

It would at least keep the boat tracking in the right direction once set!
!

TSB240, tiller pilots are not allowed when racing, unless the rules have been specifically changed to allow them. I have one, but havent ever got round to fitting it to Redshank, its on the to do list, but always seems to get bumped down the list. As she is now up for sale I guess I will keep it for the next boat.

All the best

Stuart.

 

[Redshank Evo26]

If you are sailing short handed is there a reason why you can't use a tiller pilot to help?

It would at least keep the boat tracking in the right direction once set!

It frees the helm up to take over the hoist and allows the foredeck gorilla to get the kite pole set as you hoist. Helm only has to gather in the sheet to get the kite pulling and hand over to FDG.

Tiller pilot probably cheaper to run than an an extra crew and they don't talk back to you!

Here it is ; 52. A boat’s standing rigging, running rigging, spars and movable hull appendages shall be
adjusted and operated only by manual power

 

[Redshank Evo26]

Well despite our moments of total incompetence (videos of it just going right wouldn't be very interesting would they!) We have won our fleet at TCYC again this year. That's 6 consecutive years!

If any club is considering using the newish RYA progressive handicap system for cruisers I would caution against it unless you have a reasonably large fleet out regularly (say 8+ boats). In a small fleet with vastly differing types of boat, such as ours, the handicaps jump up and down by as much as 10 mins in 100 from race to race! We will not be using it again!! In our combined fleet with an average of 8 boats it has been ok'ish, but it is very frustrating to be beaten by a boat which, for instance, wouldn't go in light winds, so its handicap comes down, then the following week it goes really well in a decent blow.

 

[Nico]

If you are sailing short handed is there a reason why you can't use a tiller pilot to help?

It would at least keep the boat tracking in the right direction once set!

It frees the helm up to take over the hoist and allows the foredeck gorilla to get the kite pole set as you hoist. Helm only has to gather in the sheet to get the kite pulling and hand over to FDG.

Tiller pilot probably cheaper to run than an an extra crew and they don't talk back to you!

You are allowed to use autohelms (if that is what you mean by Tiller pilot) in two-handed races such as the Round Britain and Ireland, and if you enter RORC or JOG races two-handed.

 

[sighmoon]

I know it was generally a bad day but more serious tips:
1) I normally bring windward clue to pole before hoisting if not whilst hoisting by pulling on guy before pulling on sheet, it helps clear any hidden twists. I also do not pull on sheet until halyard is home and secured.

I know you've been chastised for your seriousness, but I have something to learn here - other than the colour, Redshank's spinnaker looks much like ours has done on the rare occasions we've got it up.

So clew first, then halyard ought to make sure it's not twisted, yes?

 

[onesea]

I know you've been chastised for your seriousness, but I have something to learn here - other than the colour, Redshank's spinnaker looks much like ours has done on the rare occasions we've got it up.

So clew first, then halyard ought to make sure it's not twisted, yes?

If it only it was that easy....

For me it starts with:
Pack the spinnaker: by hooking or tieing the head on secure point. Running round each edge of it to find each clue securing these ideally to individual points but close to the head. Then stuffing the body of the spinnaker into the bag without adding any twists... Then securing the head and clues in the top of the bag in such a manner you know the order. Hopefully you have rectangular bag head in the middle and clue either side... If not I normally put head first then the stbd then the port clues tieing the draw string through them.

Then when preparing to hoist make sure you get the head on the head the clue on the right sheet (apparently the coloured tapes do make difference to stretch of material).

Then by pulling the windward glue at first you can normally see if you hooked the sheets on the wrong way round.

If there are any minor indiscretions you hope that buy separating the clues early and letting the sheet fall away fall out nicely.

Spinnaker work is not difficult its about being routine and methodical...

Well I hope that helps....

 

[Redshank Evo26]

If it only it was that easy....

For me it starts with:
Pack the spinnaker: by hooking or tieing the head on secure point. Running round each edge of it to find each clue securing these ideally to individual points but close to the head. Then stuffing the body of the spinnaker into the bag without adding any twists... Then securing the head and clues in the top of the bag in such a manner you know the order. Hopefully you have rectangular bag head in the middle and clue either side... If not I normally put head first then the stbd then the port clues tieing the draw string through them.

Then when preparing to hoist make sure you get the head on the head the clue on the right sheet (apparently the coloured tapes do make difference to stretch of material).

Then by pulling the windward glue at first you can normally see if you hooked the sheets on the wrong way round.

If there are any minor indiscretions you hope that buy separating the clues early and letting the sheet fall away fall out nicely.

Spinnaker work is not difficult its about being routine and methodical...

Well I hope that helps....

Thanks for all the helpful comments.

Not sure if you can see from the video, but I have colour coded sheets to try to ensure they don't get put on the wrong corners and HEAD written on both sides of the sail. So far so good, we haven't put the thing up sideways, ... Yet!!

I have been pulling the windward clew around as the kite goes up, which has helped stop it snagging in bow cleats ect too.

We have become reasonably adept at getting the kite up towards the end of the season, having had a fair bit of practice this year.

 

[bbg]

Get a big black permanent marker and write "HEAD" and "CLEW" on the respective corners, both sides of the sail. Also "TACK" for an assymetric.

It sounds as if you've done the head but don't forget the corners.

 

[Birdseye]

Not going to point fingers about the video. Tomorrow is our first race in 18 months - in all probablity we will make the video look like the slick efforts of a top racing team.

 

[DJE]

Get a big black permanent marker and write "HEAD" and "CLEW" on the respective corners, both sides of the sail. Also "TACK" for an assymetric.

It sounds as if you've done the head but don't forget the corners.

On the cruising chute that came with my boat somebody has written "TACK" in one corner with a marker pen. Trouble is that corner is the clew!

 

[onesea]

Get a big black permanent marker and write "HEAD" and "CLEW" on the respective corners, both sides of the sail. Also "TACK" for an assymetric.

It sounds as if you've done the head but don't forget the corners.

But that could make it to easy

On the cruising chute that came with my boat somebody has written "TACK" in one corner with a marker pen. Trouble is that corner is the clew!

Now that is the sort of thing I like