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Well we had a full on day today... I can see we are going to want a double bottom boat sometime, so much spary and water comes over the front when the chop is up!
Anyway. Hikers
They work great at taking the strain off the thighs but we were having to hike flat out today all around the course and the inwall, if that's the right word, cuts into our calf's.
We're sailing an old baggy and love it I'm just wondering if any one has any suggestions on how to relieve some of the strain.
Cheers
Ian and Hannah
3162

Hi guys
Thanks as ever for all the prompt advice
I like the idea of the sugar as you wash away half the extra weight, rather than the sand where you cover it with more varnish to seal it all in.... 
Is the sand better, easier or is it just that you guys haven't used the sugar method?
Cheers
Ian

Hi all
Great days sailing on Sunday...
The bailer that sunk us last time out, and that I bodeged during the week has now had its status elevated to 'repaired' as it worked perfectly.
We had a another great F4, all be it a bit chilly, and as we now had an idea of what we were up against we could start to really enjoy her.... and to finish the day with two firsts in our medium handicap fleet round it off perfectly.
But
I dont know if its just me and my boots but I cant get any grip in the boat.
Whats the trick with varnish and suger?... and does it work?
Cheers
Ian and Hannah
3162 Bicycle Clips

Thanks
Do people find that there clubs recognise these recomended numbers or just stick to the published PY?
Ian

Hi guys
Just noticed that at several times in this thread there is mention of suggested age related py numbers.
Where do i look to find out what these are.
Cheers
Ian

Thanks guys... I should point out that the bailer problem out wasn't due to rot, just the bailer itself falling apart, and i've already bodged it so that hopefully it wont happen again. If it does i'll have to buy some new ones and then I'll get to find out how solid the hull is i guess. Id rather not do this because the current bailers are so well fitted, faired in, and painted that  it would be a shame to spoil the finish.
Ian

First sail yesterday and heres the first of many questions.
Puffy F3-4, dead downwind. Goose winging the jib and sitting forward on either side.
The puffs aren't strong enough and don't really last long enough to get us planning much but when they hit the bow does go down a fair bit, nothing scary just feels like we arnt making good use of the extra wind...
So my question is what do the rest of you people do, whats the best way to deal with this?
Ian
3162

We have bought Bicycle clips and she is now sailing on the Medway in Kent.
So far its been eventful, but fun.

Ian and Hannah

Our introduction to national 12 sailing. Not your normal
storey…

 

We decided to buy bicycle clips in the end last weekend, a
baggy trousers with all the bits, a good racing record and well within our
price range… although miles away from us at leigh and Lowton sailing club.

 

Still not a problem, we have friends that way so decided to
make a weekend away of it and stayed in a premier inn on the Saturday night,
collecting the boat on Sunday morning, ready to drive back home that evening.

 

We should have realized it wouldn’t be an easier journey
when we needed to pump up one of the tires before leaving the club but we
weren’t that concerned as we got a spare trailer wheel thrown in with the boat
as part of the deal.

 

Unfortunately on the drive home when the tire went flat, and
we tried to fit said wheel, we realized that it didn’t fit! Still we had a foot
pump with us and as it was only a slow puncture we made it home in the end ok.

 

Which brings us to our first sail this weekend…

 

It was the clubs Ice Breaker event, the first race of the
new season with a single start, mass handicap race down the river and back,
with a loop half way and things got off to a reasonable start. It was a nice
sunny F3-4 and we opted to start on the club side, out of the tide and rounded
the first mark inside the top ten and amongst some much faster boats

 

We then discovered that 12’s can be a bit lively downwind in
the puffs and quickly realized that correct trim can mean some large crew
movements! but that said the fact that the boats become more stable as they
roll onto there side was pleasantly reassuring. The reach from the second mark
down river was great fun and all was going well until Hannah discovered that at
some point her watch had come undone and had now vanished. Not that it was a
great problem in itself but in our experience… when things go wrong, there
tends to be two or three of them.

 

But we were enjoying our self, we were regretting not wearing
our hikers and its clearly going to take me some time to get to grips with just
how tweaky the rig is but it was good fun and we were still leading our little
gaggle of boats.

 

And going around the last mark with just the long beat back
up river against the tide to the finish things were still good. There was a bit
more water sloshing around in the hull than we would have liked but no problem
we thought, we’ll just open the bailers and get rid of it…

 

Now at this point the story takes a turn for the worse as the
starboard bailer didn’t just flick open but fell out leaving nothing but a
large hole and a fountain of water to grab our attention. We quickly stuffed my
hat in the hole and with Hannah bailing and us keeping up some forward momentum
we managed to keep sailing, and we would have made it back if it wasn’t for the
fact the wind died, the boat stopped, and we sank. Not completely fortunately,
the buoyancy worked well and we had a rescue boat with us pretty quickly and
ready to tow us back, but even so it wasn’t the end to the good days sailing
that we would have liked.

 

So we have a bit of work to get done now for next week but
the good news is that we loved it and cant wait to get back out in her again
next week

 

Ian and Hannah

3162 Bicycle Clips

So i guess what we are saying is that they do work, but that the maginal increase in performance over a conventional shroud base doesn't warrant the aditonal cost and complexity involved!
Would that kinda sum it up.
Ian

Morning all
Mast shroud tracks?
Looking around at various boats i see that these seem to be used on some of the Chapters but not much else.
Seems like a good idea to me so why doesnt everyone have them... is it just cost... or dont they work?
Cheers
Ian

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Antony
N3348 (it is possible it is available to borrow for Burton Wk if you are interested.. it is a D8)

Thanks for the offer Anthony but we are hoping to have our own boat by then... and if we dont i'm not sure we would be that comfortable borrowing some one elses when we dont really have much experiance in the class.
Thanks for the offer though, its much appreciated.
Ian

That's perhaps a fair point however the affect of wings on a fast apparent wind boat must be different from the affect on a slower boat that is predominantly sailed in displacement mode.
And as the 12 fleet are leading the way in this respect i cant think of any one better to ask 
Ian

Thanks for the pictures Dare. It does look good and if I could find a cheap, easy way of making one that even I could manage then I'd have a go, just for the pose. 

Another spin then on the same question then... Is there a time when those that have a winged rudder dont use it... will everyone need two rudders in the futture?

Ian

Hi Dare
It would be good to see what you did... I guess what I'm really asking though is does it work... is it worth the effort.
Cheers
Ian