Racers stand down

[Twister_Ken]

How many cruisers adjust their kicking strap (boom vang for the cousins) more than once a season?

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[Jacket]

Surely every time you reef you have to ease the kicker while you put it in, then tighten it again?

Though I guess Twisters don't have to reef often.

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[squidge]

I have to adjust the rope/tube thingie every time i put up my sun shade other wise it stops the boom thingie going up! Whats it for anyway?/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[vyv_cox]

Very often. I'm a dedicated string puller, adjust everything possible to get best performance. I adjust my genoa car fore-and-aft position as well!

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[tome]

Not as often as I should (it's on a clam cleat at the mast base), but then again I rarely seem to have any free wind these days - could this be my age?

I'm going to fit a deck organiser on the port side to match the one to stbd and bring reefing lines and kicker back to t'cockpit. Winter job!

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[zefender]

Re: On the fiddle

I have a gas jobbie and adjust for every point of sail. Praps I should just leave it well alone but then I'd feel intimidated by the cackling of purists as I pass them - or vice versa

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[extravert]

Not got one. Got a long traveller instead and use that.

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[dickh]

I adjust mine all the time, I have a spring loaded type and you have to pull in the rope & tackle everytime I put up the sail or reef, also release it a bit in light winds.

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I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Boathook]

I keep thinking about adjusting ours but then get sidetracked on to some other thoughts such as a cold beer ! On a cruising boat though would it make much difference unless it is well 'out' ?

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[Evadne]

If I don't ease off the kicker when hoisting the main it is a bugger to get up, let alone anything approaching tension in it. Maybe I should fit a halyard winch.

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[billmacfarlane]

I'm afraid I use it all the time. Not so much on a close haul as the mainsheet does the job of it , but when reaching and running it's always being fiddled with.

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[DanTribe]

Why should I? The boat was delivered like that, so obviously that is what the manufacturer intended.

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[Sergeant_Pepper]

Re: Don\'t you?

I adjust it frequently - abd always tighten it up when the boom starts to lft on a run. Not bad for a diehard cruiser.



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[tcm]

Yes yes, I agree with this. I usually pul quite a few strings when going quite fast. Then the boat slows down a bit, which may have been the wind, maybe not, so then try (and fail) re-adjusting everything to as it was when going fast, when i should have left it alone.

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[Twister_Ken]

Re: Don\'t you?

When I was a callow youf the kicker was always played. Now I'm an immature adult, I find that close hauled the mainsheet and traveller do all the work, so I can leave the kicker sufficiently floppy that when I come off the wind the boom lifts to tighten it to the point where I don't need to adjust it. Nirvana.

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[david_e]

Re: Kickers

Not another story about Beckham)

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[Twister_Ken]

Re: Kickers

Must say I thought last week was a really good example of the trivialisation of the news agenda.

Major stories:

Beckham in Japan
Harry Potter
The Bent Bishop
Will Victoria like Madrid
Prince Willy's birthday




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[claymore]

Twice

April when we go in and November when we come out.
Three times this year actually - Jimi fiddled with it and it seemed to make quite difference really - but he wouldn't tell me what he did.

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Claymore
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[Oldhand]

As frequently as changes in wind conditions dictate to keep the best possible mainsail shape. Just because one's a cruiser it doesn't mean one should accept sailing with low efficiency!

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[claymore]

Indeed it doesn't - we only measure out enough water per cup per person each time we brew up. Hows that for efficiency savings on Gas and Water?
I once spent a week cruising with someone who constantly fiddled with every damned sheet and control line on the boat - it became a source of irritation which led to his never being asked back

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Claymore
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