William_H
Well-Known Member
Racing has now finished till after Christmas. We had a beautiful Friday night race 1hr 20mins to finish just on sun down. Just 2 up and no spinnaker. Sunday afternoon was another story. Forecast 10 to 15 knots but actually turned out to be over 20knots. Had big spinnaker set up so forward hand talked me into flying it. Did one glorious round up. A round up is when the boat heels under spinnaker (or plain sail) such that drive gets off set from drag of hull turning the boat into the wind. This brings wind more onto the beam so spinnaker causes more heel. The rudder mean while is operating at 45 degrees or more to the surface and becomes less effective so the boat turns more into the wind until you end up laid flat and stopped. If you let the spin sheets go loose it will still hold the wind so doesn't help much. The only answer is to catch the turn into the wind before it gets serious ie head down wind and of course dump the main sheet. Or be more sensible in the first place and pull it down. (not ol'will's forte)
Anyway did all right down wind but the waves (chop) and wind were not good for the little boat and the 30 fter and the 32 fter got away from us on the beat back. There was one moment when things could have gone really badly. At the end of the spinnaker run we pulled it down under the boom into the cabin . Left the pole on as we headed up wind. I sent crew no 2 forward to stow the spin pole. This is a light weight wind surfer carbon fibre mast top section about 10ft long. It is tapered but that doesn't matter. It is stowed very neatly vertically on the front/side of the mast. He was standing on the side deck trying to stow the pole when the boat lurched. (at 21ft it is pretty lively in choppy water) . Crew 2 went backwards over the side still clutching the pole. He must have gone to about 50 degrees from the water when the topping lift on the pole took up. Fortunately it remains connected at all times. (so I can't lose the pole) So he was dangling out like on a trapeze when another lurch and he was back on board. Watching we were sure he was over board. Now I always make crew 1 were buoyancy vest as he does the prancing around on the fore deck. (he is 75yo but light weight) It seemed easier so send no 2 to put the pole away as he was sitting forward and closer but not wearing buoyancy. Another lesson learnt.
At one stage the jib sheet firstly got caught around the deck mooring cleat and then escaped from the deck sheave. I was the closest at the time and I must say I hate going onto the fore deck wet and sloping while beating to wind ward. I am fairly heavy and in old age losing confidence in my ballance etc. I think I will stay in the cockpit if I can in future.
Well we got pretty wet on the beat back to wind ward and home. One turkey in 30 odd ft mobo came past in the opposite direction having just escaped from the speed limited area he passed us about 6 metres away with a huge wake. When we hit the wake the water seemed pretty solid and went over us to land behind the little boat. Quite amazing. My beef was that I had been out to scrub the seagull mess off the decks earlier that morning. Had I not done so the spray would have done it for me. Well almost) anyway it is clean now.
Anyway no one really minded the drenching. (this was the 4th day in a row when official max temp exceeded 40) water is very pleasantly warm or at least not cold and of course we all swim well. Just a bit of waffle from 32S don't despair summer will come for you soon. ol'will
Anyway did all right down wind but the waves (chop) and wind were not good for the little boat and the 30 fter and the 32 fter got away from us on the beat back. There was one moment when things could have gone really badly. At the end of the spinnaker run we pulled it down under the boom into the cabin . Left the pole on as we headed up wind. I sent crew no 2 forward to stow the spin pole. This is a light weight wind surfer carbon fibre mast top section about 10ft long. It is tapered but that doesn't matter. It is stowed very neatly vertically on the front/side of the mast. He was standing on the side deck trying to stow the pole when the boat lurched. (at 21ft it is pretty lively in choppy water) . Crew 2 went backwards over the side still clutching the pole. He must have gone to about 50 degrees from the water when the topping lift on the pole took up. Fortunately it remains connected at all times. (so I can't lose the pole) So he was dangling out like on a trapeze when another lurch and he was back on board. Watching we were sure he was over board. Now I always make crew 1 were buoyancy vest as he does the prancing around on the fore deck. (he is 75yo but light weight) It seemed easier so send no 2 to put the pole away as he was sitting forward and closer but not wearing buoyancy. Another lesson learnt.
At one stage the jib sheet firstly got caught around the deck mooring cleat and then escaped from the deck sheave. I was the closest at the time and I must say I hate going onto the fore deck wet and sloping while beating to wind ward. I am fairly heavy and in old age losing confidence in my ballance etc. I think I will stay in the cockpit if I can in future.
Well we got pretty wet on the beat back to wind ward and home. One turkey in 30 odd ft mobo came past in the opposite direction having just escaped from the speed limited area he passed us about 6 metres away with a huge wake. When we hit the wake the water seemed pretty solid and went over us to land behind the little boat. Quite amazing. My beef was that I had been out to scrub the seagull mess off the decks earlier that morning. Had I not done so the spray would have done it for me. Well almost) anyway it is clean now.
Anyway no one really minded the drenching. (this was the 4th day in a row when official max temp exceeded 40) water is very pleasantly warm or at least not cold and of course we all swim well. Just a bit of waffle from 32S don't despair summer will come for you soon. ol'will
