Studland has it all !

[Searush]

FWIW, I used to watch 505's off Wallasey beach many years ago & they were always very carefully managed in the surf line when beaching or launching. I mean would you sail what was then a really expensive boat up the beach a full pelt?

What is it that makes racing sailors believe they can't depower their sails if they need to slow dowwn? OK it isn't a useful racing tactic, but it can be a good way of forcing another boat over the line early or just common sense when launching & returning to base.

 

[fireball]

<snip>
What is it that makes racing sailors believe they can't depower their sails if they need to slow dowwn? OK it isn't a useful racing tactic, but it can be a good way of forcing another boat over the line early or just common sense when launching & returning to base.

I don't know where you got this impression from ... most dinghy racers know how to hang just behind the start line (dunno about cruiser racers) ... but that's pointing into the wind ... point them down wind and there is a whole lot less they can do about minimum speed - like you say - spill a bit by letting the kicker off, but with swept back shrouds they can't let the main fly and they have big mains - in anything more than a F3 they will generally be doing more than 5 knots downwind... and not be able to do much about it short of dropping the main or dragging a limb (or two).

 

[FB122]

Speeding Sail

What a great subject to debate and some interesting comments and observations well done everyone

 

[ARCO7]

Studland Bay Algae

Can everyone confirm this Hair Algae is the same as the Green-Blue Algae that is causing a EA health warning in the Shetlands yesterday?

 

[ARCO7]

Hang on !

The Loch in question is a Freshwater loch so hopefully the Blue green algae is not the same as the Hair algae in Studland Bay.